Soul Reaper Tianxin World!

Soul Reaper: Tianxin World!

Ichiro smiled. "What is it? Didn't you complain earlier that I didn't value you enough? Why the change of heart now?"

World slowly stepped forward, embraced Ichiro, and choked out, "Lord Ichiro, I was ignorant before. I truly wasn't worth it."

Ichiro gently stroked World's hair and whispered, "You are worth it. Everything is worth it."

As he spoke, Ichiro recalled what had just transpired.

Time rewound to the moment the transmutation was nearing completion.

Reconstruction.

When he reached this step, Ichiro's consciousness suddenly detached from the transmutation circle and arrived before a massive gate, its surface etched with all the knowledge he had ever acquired.

The Gate of Truth!

The essential requirement for performing Alchemy!

This thing exists within every alchemist, yet under normal circumstances, an alchemist can never see it. Only by using a Human Transmutation circle can one catch a glimpse of such a sight!

Beyond recording all of one's knowledge, the Gate of Truth possesses a powerful effect, just as its name implies: Truth!

Push open this door, and you can obtain all the knowledge in the world!

If you can pay the price, that is.

Back when he first arrived in the Soul Society, Ichiro had once considered this: use Alchemy to create souls, transmute those souls into a Philosopher's Stone, and then use the stone to trade for knowledge here!

With enough Philosopher's Stones, he would be truly omniscient and omnipotent!

Regrettably, after further research into this, Ichiro ultimately abandoned the idea. First and foremost, even an artificially created soul is still a soul—an independent life.

Transmuting life into a Philosopher's Stone to trade with the Gate of Truth meant treating life as mere material, which undoubtedly violated Ichiro's belief that life is priceless.

Thus, he eventually gave up on that plan.

However, after Ichiro obtained his Zanpakuto and had—well, after he had established initial communication with his Zanpakuto—a new idea sprouted: to transform the Zanpakuto into a human form!

As time passed and his understanding of his Zanpakuto deepened, this idea grew increasingly intense, until he finally decided to restart the research project for the Philosopher's Stone!

He wanted to use the Philosopher's Stone to turn this dearest friend, who understood him best, into a real human, not just a blade!

Yet, when Ichiro successfully entered his Mental World and met his Zanpakuto, World, he once again abandoned the idea of refining a Philosopher's Stone.

Because the Zanpakuto is two sides of the same coin with him, and no one in this world is closer to Ichiro than his Zanpakuto, World. Could he really use something as evil as a Philosopher's Stone to defile her?

One must remember that as a manifestation of Ichiro's inner self, the belief that life is priceless is also World's philosophy. Would she accept gaining a new life through the use of a filthy Philosopher's Stone?

The answer was NO!

Of course, abandoning the Philosopher's Stone did not mean Ichiro had given up on the plan to resurrect his Zanpakuto. On the contrary, after the incident where he had harmed her, his resolve only grew stronger.

Two choices lay before him: first, research a true Philosopher's Stone—one not transmuted from life; second, use Alchemy itself as the price to trade with the Gate of Truth!

Ichiro chose the latter without hesitation!

The former was a distant, unreachable dream—something countless alchemists had pursued for ages without success. Ichiro did not believe it would be so easy for him to obtain.

Trading Alchemy, however, was a move born of necessity.

The trade with the Gate of Truth has a specific characteristic: it takes away what is most important to you. It is something you are not usually aware of, and you only realize its value when it is lost. (This is mentioned in the original Fullmetal Alchemist, so I won't go into detail here; it is the thing that must be extracted.)

Unless one actively uses Alchemy to trade. Just as Ichiro had told World that day, World's ability and Alchemy were not equivalent; likewise, Alchemy was not equivalent to World.

World, or Alchemy—he had to choose one.

The Ichiro of today would choose the former without hesitation!

Past memories surfaced before Ichiro like a dream. Standing beneath the gate, Ichiro glanced at the "Ichiro" slowly manifesting and said, "Was this memory your doing?"

"Ichiro" shrugged, spreading his hands. "The ancients said, 'I examine myself three times a day.' Perhaps this way, you might change your mind? So, make your choice, Tenshin Ichiro. What price will you pay to alter the essence of your Zanpakuto, World?"

"As I thought, my research could never truly turn World into a human," he murmured. Ichiro looked up, pressed his right hand to his heart, and said without hesitation, "I offer my Alchemy as the price to exchange for World's rebirth!"

With that, he strode forward and pushed open the Gate of Truth!

"Ichiro" smiled, saying nothing, and simply watched Ichiro's retreating back as he vanished along with the Gate of Truth.

"Stop crying. As the other side of me, how could you continue to exist in the form of a blade?"

"Lord Ichiro, are you not afraid that I might betray you, like the cases in those stories from your past life?"

Ichiro smiled and countered, "Would you?"

World held Ichiro tighter and whispered, "Never! World will never betray Lord Ichiro!"

"Good, I believe you. Now, you are truly human. Give yourself a name." Ichiro gently pushed World away and looked at her.

"Let it be World. My name is a manifestation of Lord Ichiro's inner strength, so my name shall be World!"

"And your surname?"

"World... may I take Lord Ichiro's surname?"

Ichiro rubbed his chin, intrigued. "A daughter or a younger sister? Hmm, that feels closer than a dear friend. Very well, from now on, you shall be called Tenshin World!"

World pouted and said, "Fine, from now on I am Tenshin World! But! Not a sister or a daughter—World is Lord Ichiro's dearest friend!"

"Uh." Waking from the joy of a successful experiment, Ichiro suddenly realized something and nodded awkwardly, agreeing to the request.

Stepping back slightly, he extended his hand and said with a smile, "Then let's reintroduce ourselves. My name is Tenshin Ichiro."

Sekai beamed, saying, "My name is Tenshin Sekai. I am Lord Ichiro's closest friend, and at the same time, Sekai will always be your Zanpakuto! Your Zanpakuto alone!"

Under Ichiro's puzzled gaze, Sekai dissolved into spirit particles, gathered at Ichiro's waist, and transformed back into a Zanpakuto!

"Sekai?"

"Sekai is here, Lord Ichiro."

"What are you doing?"

"Being your Zanpakuto. Turning Sekai into a human was your idea, Lord Ichiro, but Sekai's only wish is to stay by your side forever and remain your Zanpakuto. Don't worry, though; I can take human form whenever you like, but I hope you will allow me to accompany you in the form of a Zanpakuto most of the time."

Hearing her soft, sweet voice in his mind, Ichiro smiled helplessly and replied, "Suit yourself. As long as you're happy."

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Ichiro, the moment Sekai reverted into a Zanpakuto, Ichibe Hyosube, located within the Soul King Palace, turned his head and frowned in Ichiro's direction. Just a moment ago, he had forgotten the true name of Ichiro's Zanpakuto!

He knew such a thing existed, but he had completely forgotten what it actually was!