Chapter 660 - 660 Entrusting This World To You!

The moment he heard the Soul King's voice, Toshiro felt a surge of surprise in his heart. It wasn't surprise at the Soul King's appearance… after all, Toshiro had already seen the Soul King's image in the original manga in his previous life… so what truly surprised Toshiro was that the Soul King could actually speak.

After all, the Soul King's entire body was embedded in a transparent crystal floating in mid-air. In that state, it seemed like he shouldn't have the ability to speak.

But Toshiro was only surprised for a moment, then realized that the Soul King hadn't actually spoken. He had merely transmitted his 'intention' into Toshiro's mind to achieve communication.

Then Toshiro stepped forward, arriving not far in front of the Soul King, and said calmly: "Hello, Soul King-dono."

Although the Soul King was nominally the ruler of Soul Society, and Toshiro was one of the Captains of the Gotei 13, who by rights should be the Soul King's subordinate, Toshiro's attitude was neither obsequious nor arrogant. He did not grovel just because the Soul King was his nominal superior.

And the Soul King did not mind this, because both of them knew clearly that for two 'gods', these things were meaningless.

Both of them were at the same level of existence in terms of life forms... there was no issue of one being superior to the other.

In fact, if one were to argue, Toshiro, in his prime, was much stronger than the current, extremely weak Soul King.

Then the Soul King got straight to the point: "Let's skip the pleasantries, Toshiro-dono. You must have some guess as to the purpose of my summoning you here, right?"

"Ah, if I'm not mistaken, Soul King-dono, you want to know my stance, right? Towards Soul Society, towards the Shinigami, towards the entire world, and towards you, the nominal ruler..."

Then, without waiting for the Soul King's response, Toshiro voluntarily answered: "When I defeated him, Aizen also asked the same question. But now, I will give a serious answer once again..."

"I am not an ambitious person. I only want to protect those important to me. I have no intention of changing this world, nor do I intend to replace your rule. I just want to live a peaceful life with my comrades. So, you can rest assured..." Toshiro said calmly.

"Is that so? Just as expected..." The Soul King seemed to have anticipated Toshiro's answer and showed no surprise.

Then the Soul King continued: "Having understood your personality beforehand, I knew you would answer like this. However... even if you actually wanted to replace me, it wouldn't matter. I wouldn't refuse, and would even actively cooperate with you."

"Oh? Why is that?" Toshiro asked, somewhat surprised.

"You said earlier that my meeting with you this time was to understand your stance. In a sense, that's not wrong. However... it's not just that."

"Perhaps you think I want to know your stance to determine whether you will threaten my rule. But that's not the case. In my current, utterly pathetic state, stuck here unable to move, is ruling the world really such an interesting thing for me?"

"No! It's not! For me, this is even worse than death!"

"So, I simply want to know your stance and thereby determine whether you are worthy of my entrusting the entire world to you." The Soul King's voice sounded in Toshiro's mind.

"Entrust the world to me? Why?" Toshiro asked, surprised again.

"Because... I have foreseen my death. In the near future, I will die. So, I want to entrust this world to someone trustworthy to protect before I die." The Soul King's voice remained as calm as ever, as if the person about to die was not himself.

"Foreseeing the future, huh..."

"Correct. Gods possess various incredible [Authorities] that seem miraculous to ordinary people. However, because each god's power focuses on different directions, they develop their own unique special abilities. [Prophecy] is one of my abilities. You should be very clear about this yourself, Toshiro-dono." The Soul King explained.

"Ah, although that's true... my abilities all seem to be related to combat. I don't have any wondrous abilities like 'prophecy'." Toshiro said somewhat dejectedly.

The Soul King's 'future prediction' and Yhwach's [Almighty] are some of their unique abilities as gods. As a newly ascended god, Toshiro naturally has his own unique abilities as well.

But unfortunately, Toshiro's abilities are mostly related to combat. He doesn't have cheating abilities like future prediction or Almighty.

"Don't be disappointed, Toshiro-dono. As the wielder of the Strongest Ice-type Zanpakuto, your abilities naturally lean towards combat. Exchanging some special abilities for combat power far exceeding ordinary people is actually something to be grateful for. Take me, for example... although I have the ability to 'predict the future' and have foreseen my own death, I do not have the ability to change the future." The Soul King said with some emotion.

"Is the future... unchangeable?" Toshiro couldn't help but ask curiously.

"Unchangeable… that's how it should be. However... you, Toshiro-dono, seem to be an exception..." The Soul King said somewhat meaningfully.

Hearing the Soul King's words, Toshiro's heart tightened.

'Could it be... does the Soul King know that I am a Transmigrator?' Toshiro speculated inwardly.

Then the Soul King continued: "In the future I originally foresaw, that child named Kurosaki Ichigo would be the [Child of Destiny], bearing the fate of saving the world. And you, Toshiro-dono, while also a Captain of the Gotei 13, would not achieve the accomplishments you have now..."

"But... everything has changed. It changed because of you. The fates of you and those around you have undergone enormous changes. Although I don't know what happened to you, your fate has indeed differed from what I predicted. And this... indicates that you indeed have the ability to change the future."

Hearing the Soul King's words, Toshiro realized that the Soul King had not seen through his identity as a Transmigrator, and he breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

Although even if the Soul King knew, nothing would change, it would still be unpleasant if someone knew his privacy.

"Since the future can be changed, can't the future of you dying soon be changed, Soul King-dono?" Toshiro asked.

"Although it's regrettable, that is indeed the case. Although I can foresee the future, I do not have the ability to change it like you do. Whether it's the original future or the future changed by you, I will eventually die. This point is unchangeable, even by you." The Soul King said.

"Why?" Toshiro asked.

"Because I myself have reached my limit. You can see how extremely weak I am now. So, even if the future changes, I will eventually collapse and perish because I have reached my limit..."

"But as the 'wedge', after I die, Soul Society, the Living World, and Hueco Mundo will all collapse. So..."

"—Now, I earnestly request you once again, Toshiro-dono! After I die... this world... is entrusted to you!!" The Soul King requested with an extremely serious tone.