What is the limit of imagination?
Just for this question, perhaps it's a thousand faces for a thousand people, an open-ended conclusion with no identical results.
But for Gremmy, this question has always had only one answer from beginning to end.
That is...
Everything I understand.
Things I can't imagine cannot be realized through my power.
Things I can't understand naturally cannot be touched by the power called 'imagination'.
A very simple theory.
An ant cannot imagine the scene of itself stomping an elephant to death, right?
But... this theory isn't absolute.
Gremmy deeply realized this point at this moment.
"If an ant cannot harm an elephant, it's simply because its cognition has always been limited to that level."
Human cognition is the limit of one's reach.
An ant cannot imagine harming an elephant, but conversely... if an ant recognized its power and deeply imagined its own strength.
Then.
Would the so-called 'ant' still just be an ant?
The answer might become blurred at this moment, but regardless, Gremmy had found his own unique path.
Not through the enhancement achieved by Vollständig, but a kind of liberation-like relief.
Bound by Yhwach, suppressed, and thus unable to contact external things, Gremmy deeply understood this.
So his first reaction after regaining mobility:
Was to broaden his horizons.
"As long as one can understand the principles of things, clearly know their operational logic... what remains after that is just the procedure of 'assembling' them, right?"
Gremmy's figure slowly emerged in the air.
He still wore that clean white clothing, with a faint smile hanging on his face.
Now looking down at the two not far ahead, his pupils showed no emotional fluctuation whatsoever.
As if in his eyes, these were merely two insignificant dust particles, only needing to be lightly swept away...
So exaggerated that they could be completely knocked down.
His gaze lightly moved from the two, then looked toward a more distant direction.
This obvious act of 'ignoring' clearly didn't satisfy the involved party.
Szayelaporro slightly narrowed his eyes.
He lightly huffed, his right hand passing in front... upon which appeared a puppet completely identical to Gremmy.
Still under his control, yet able to speak such confident words.
Hard to tell if this guy had gone mad or if it was simply because his knowledge was too shallow?
Unknown.
Szayelaporro just raised his left hand as before, lightly tapping forward.
This time, starting with the legs.
The puppet's two legs twisted off, torn apart, finally turning into shattered powder.
How about that? This level of injury, even if pain was blocked, would definitely affect movement, right?
Szayelaporro grinned as he raised his head, but was stunned to find Gremmy standing calmly in place.
There was not the slightest abnormality on his body, as if the replica puppet in his hand had completely lost connection with the original body, so exaggeratedly.
"...?"
Slightly puzzled.
But more confusion followed, making him involuntarily widen his eyes slightly, causing his throat to roll...
Emitting a sound close to bewilderment.
Couldn't understand.
Why had his ability lost its due effect?
Moreover... what state was the opponent in now?
"Hard to understand?"
Gremmy's voice came from not far ahead, the Arrancar somewhat belatedly looked up, only to see that the other had turned his head back.
"Well, I suppose you wouldn't understand anyway."
"After all, the gap in cognition is just that."
"The current me... has already reached a level you cannot attain or touch."
Szayelaporro's ability hadn't failed.
It's just that the entity once called 'Gremmy' had now, through conscious melting and contact, completely merged himself into this world.
To say it boldly.
The current Gremmy was essentially a manifestation of Soul Society itself.
"Unless you can destroy this entire world, otherwise... heh, never mind. Explaining to you is useless anyway."
A sense of looking down from above.
Making Gremmy seem as if overlooking this entire world, now producing a mindset approaching 'divinity'.
He just looked down at him, so calmly... slowly.
Raised his right hand, toward where Szayelaporro was, and gently pressed down.
Mayuri beside him seemed to want to say something.
But before he could open his mouth.
Szayelaporro's body began to twist rapidly.
Crackling sounds were incessant, and that body over several meters tall was likewise frantically deforming.
As if invisible forces were continuously tilting, pressing on his body.
Szayelaporro involuntarily let out a deep roar, his entire body tensing at this moment.
"Gaaaah..."
Gremmy's eyebrows involuntarily raised.
Because he realized... things weren't as simple as he had imagined?
So hard.
This was his current thought.
Since he had become part of Soul Society, he should have been able to control this part of power.
Naturally also my aide.
Spirit particles floating in the air, oxygen scattered in the sky... simple, complex, various things were under Gremmy's control, continuously spreading as his perception expanded.
He touched more things.
And felt more vivid power.
Understood... just needing to reach this level, he could also, like the Soul King, achieve such miraculous behaviors.
Gremmy's thoughts sharply settled at this moment, he opened his eyes, and a subtle smile appeared on his emotionless face.
He was about to begin action.
However, at this subtle moment.
He saw the contemptuous expression appearing on Mayuri's face not far away.
...
Why?
At this point, why could this guy still show such a composed expression?
Didn't he know what level my power had reached? Or was it simply because he had given up, already abandoned resistance?
Numerous thoughts swirled in his mind, Gremmy's expression gradually became serious, and now he silently extended his other hand.
Grasping toward Mayuri's direction.
According to normal theory, eliminating one guy first, then targeting the remaining person would be the correct solution.
But now Gremmy felt an invisible impulse brewing in his heart.
As if a voice was making a sharp roar deep in his mind, forcing him to pay attention, to begin to review his judgment.
This man...
Seemed to be brewing something unexpected to him.
As part of the embodiment of Soul Society, Gremmy didn't believe the other could pose any meaningful threat to him.
It should have been so.
But his body began to act.
—It's fine, just crushing an ant-like opponent.
Just as he was comforting himself like this.
Gremmy saw...
His hands were slowly dissipating.
"...?"
What is this?
Gremmy somewhat confusedly raised his hands, watching his body floating away bit by bit, disappearing into the air.
His expression gradually changed from confusion to panic.
Not understanding what was happening, but his body was disappearing bit by bit... unacceptable! This wasn't his own will either.
Stop!
A decisive and direct command.
Yet unable to get the slightest response.
In fact, Gremmy's identity accelerated the collapse process.
Like countless invisible, intangible ants continuously gnawing, devouring his flesh, Gremmy watched his gradually disappearing figure, his expression completely frozen on his face.
Why why why...
"Don't understand, right?"
As if able to read the thoughts deep in the other's heart.
With a calm face, Mayuri watched the blank-faced Gremmy from afar, speaking in a peaceful and unwavering tone.
"This is the price of trying to touch the realm of gods with mortal power."
Human cognition is limited.
Most of the time, even if one thinks of something, they cannot transform dreams into reality through their own power.
"But your ability could achieve this level, which is actually very dangerous."
Mayuri's calmness made Gremmy very uneasy. He wanted to say something, but could no longer control his body.
At this moment.
He was just a 'listener' in the simple sense.
"Do you know why Yhwach sealed you away? He wasn't simply afraid of your power, but while restraining your growth..."
After a pause, Mayuri said word by word.
"Slowing your pace toward self-destruction."
Omniscience and omnipotence are tightly connected abilities.
Because what is seen is what is obtained, this is a level only gods can achieve.
And if one can achieve one side but lacks the other half of the ability... this is definitely an 'unhealthy' situation.
"Thoughts that spread out will never stop growing."
"You would eventually grow to that level, unless you suddenly died for some reason..."
"And after reaching this level, you would also meet a self-destructive fate due to the inadequacy of your own abilities."
Not alarmism.
Because a person who once betrayed Soul Society also proved this theory through similar methods.
"Back then, Seiya was well-prepared, kneading the entire Seireitei into backup operating spiritual pressure, barely touching the edge of this ability."
Even so.
The person showed considerable pain.
And this is the price of shouldering a 'non-human' thing with human will.
"What about you?"
"Without a bit of preparation, thinking from the start that you could become a figure like the Soul King."
"Just because of this 'dream come true' ability? That's too laughable! Listen... the limit of humans has never been so-called cognitive ability."
But another sense of.
"Self-awareness."
Touch what you should touch, grow within a well-planned, defined range.
Like a bonsai that has been disciplined and arranged.
If you want to 'insolently' extend your branches and leaves, touching places that aren't permitted...
Then what awaits is only the fate of being pruned.
"Well, telling you too much probably won't make you understand."
The power in the Three Worlds is a constant thing.
The Soul King, who has seen through past, present, and future, is the root of all things.
Since he hasn't made any judgment or arrangement for you, then usually... there's only one possibility left.
This guy's existence simply isn't worth the Soul King's attention.
Even in the eyes of others now, Gremmy's behavior seemed more like Don Quixote launching a desperate charge against windmills, so comical.
It was brave and fearless, believing in one's own power to defeat everything...
And because of this, it now seemed so comical and laughable.
What a sighing scene.
Mayuri sighed slightly.
He seemed to rarely display an attitude close to 'pity', now looking at the gradually disappearing, collapsing Gremmy.
"If possible, someone like you could also grow well, becoming a power that could help the Three Worlds."
"But there's no way... your education and worldview are too narrow."
"Even if I personally took action, I wouldn't be confident in reversing it."
So.
Start over from the beginning.
Like returning to chaos's 0, then nurturing that blank 1 from it.
Gremmy's face shattered at the last moment, he deeply looked at the two in the distance, and sighed in his heart.
What exactly...
Did I do wrong?
Before it could settle, the brain that separated from the flesh fell straight down in the air.
Mayuri rushed forward, extending his hand to catch it.
This was the brain possessing the ability of 'dreams come true', also the true body of 'Gremmy'.
His flesh, his clothing, even these were things imagined by this brain.
Like the theory of a brain in a vat.
It indeed aroused Mayuri's strong interest.
Staring at it, Mayuri couldn't help but let out a low murmur.
—Power born from imagination, ultimately stopped by the endless spread of imagination.
By this you rise, by this you fall.
Is this the end of the Quincies?
That's really...
"The most fitting end for their character."
Amid the sighing, Szayelaporro also straightened his spine miserably.
The flesh strength of an Arrancar wasn't low, and because of this, he withstood Gremmy's first wave of attacks.
Wanting to say something appropriate for the occasion.
But before he could speak.
The soaring firelight had already illuminated the entire Soul Society.
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Powerstones?
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