Nephier was both shocked and terrified by what she saw. The man, whose limbs were locked by mechanical arms, was not being torn apart—instead, he was pulling the mechanical arms toward the center of his body.
"What's going on? Increase the output!"
She instinctively thought the machine wasn't strong enough. Otherwise, how could Gusion still be alive, mocking everyone on the execution ground?
The mechanical arms used for Gusion's execution were the new model, a new generation of exoskeletons selling well on the market. Each arm could exert 800 kg of force, and in overload mode, over 1,000 kg.
It had been estimated that the ancient five-horse dismemberment used a force of about 375 kg, with a sudden tear force perhaps reaching 600 kg.
But the force of horses and mechanical arms was worlds apart. Each arm gripping Gusion had 800 kg of force. In theory, he should have been instantly torn apart!
"It... it's already at maximum output!"
The executioner wiped cold sweat from his forehead. He kept increasing the output, but the mechanical arms were overheating, and Lu Li remained intact.
What they saw defied scientific understanding. After capturing Gusion, they thoroughly examined him. X-ray scans confirmed he was a pure old-era human, with no mechanical or skeletal implants. How could he withstand such force?
Nephier had heard of old strongmen who could hold up 300 kg stone pillars with each arm—but those men were massive, nothing like Gusion's lean build.
Now, with the straitjacket removed, Gusion wore only shorts. His body was well-proportioned, not the bulky mass of a strongman.
On the platform, Gusion slowly contracted his limbs, like a giant winch tightening rebar. His wrists and ankles bled where the mechanical claws gripped them, but nothing could stop his movement.
Yes, he was born strong.
Earlier, he'd told Nephier about that manga, but she misunderstood. He wasn't the one with technique but no strength—he was the one whose strength overwhelmed everything!
The mechanical arms howled in protest, black smoke pouring from overheated joints. The guards realized the seriousness of the problem. They didn't know how Gusion was doing this, but if the execution failed, they'd have to shoot him.
They loaded their guns, aiming at Gusion on the platform.
"Don't shoot!"
At that moment, a middle-aged man in a suit on the high platform shouted, his face both excited and manic. "Unbelievable! This is the truth... this is the truth!"
Like a believer seeing his god, he stared feverishly at Gusion. "It's genetic evolution! He must have used a successful gene serum! My god, someone succeeded! Subdue him—I want a live specimen!"
Gusion found it laughable because only he knew the truth—there was no resistance group, no genius scientist with a miraculous gene serum.
He had always been like this, never using any technology.
Bang—!
With a final exertion, one of the mechanical arms snapped at the joint, freeing his right arm.
Fixed on the platform, it was hard for him to exert force, but since the mechanical arms themselves were moving, they had aided his escape.
As soon as his right hand was free, Gusion, ignoring the pain, twisted his body, grabbed the broken arm, and smashed down.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In a flash of sparks and smoke, a figure rose from the dust, bones cracking as he moved.
He couldn't break free from the tough straitjacket, but when it came to a contest of strength with these rigid exoskeletal arms, the arms would always break first.
He squatted, dashed, leaped.
He soared—his feet landing atop the armored guards—moving across the execution ground like a graceful dancer.
In an instant, he covered dozens of meters, eyes locking onto the old man in the black robe on the wall, wielding a broken mechanical arm like Odin with his spear of destiny.
"Fire! Fire!"
The old man could no longer stay calm. He grabbed the suited man's arm and screamed, cursing his stupidity.
Capture him alive?
Hesitating put everyone at risk.
He never imagined the truth behind the deaths of the ten martial arts masters was this: Gusion was both a martial genius and possessed divine strength. Those relying on technology were no match.
Where did Master Amon find this monster? Or did he use some unknown gene serum?
The sound of air being torn snapped the old man's thoughts.
The suit-clad man's feverish expression froze as hot blood splattered on him, and he screamed in terror, "Kill him!"
Gunfire erupted, but Gusion moved like a dancing specter.
He was too fast!
Muzzles flashed like death's scythe, but couldn't touch the target.
No, as soldiers fell one after another, it dawned on them—Gusion was the real death god in the arena.
Sirens wailed. Holes opened in the walls and rows of lasers swept across, instantly slicing the remaining soldiers in half. Only Nephier, who had collapsed in terror, survived by luck.
She looked up in horror, expecting to see Gusion cut down, but instead saw him at the peak of his leap.
Their eyes met for a split second before parting. She saw only the boredom of a killer.
The next moment, in Nephier's despairing gaze, eight flaming objects rained from the sky.
The man in the suit, retreating toward the safe zone with a cruel smile, suddenly looked aghast—one of the missiles was flying straight at him!
With a thunderous explosion, the entire arena was engulfed...
...
[Explorer, welcome to the Endspace.]
A deep female voice sounded in Gusion's ear, making him open his eyes.
He looked around in confusion—darkness everywhere. He touched his head. Wasn't he shot in the head?
Not dead?
[Explorer, do you wish to sign a contract with the Endspace?]
The voice sounded again, and this time glowing blue words floated before his eyes.
Endspace?
What was this place? Had the resistance rescued him?
But he knew himself—he didn't know any resistance, and doubted they could rescue someone from company HQ.
"What is this place?" Gusion asked warily, suspecting he'd been captured alive.
The company's virtual headsets were very advanced—95% realism in the latest models. Was he in a virtual simulation?
[Explorer, you have reached the end of your journey in your original world. The Endspace grants you new life.]
Gusion paused, feeling the reality of his body. He'd used the company's Full Dive Virtual Reality games before, but they never felt this real.
He was sure—this was his real body. The company's tech couldn't be this perfect.
So, he was in another world?
"Sign a contract? What do I need to do? What do you offer?"
Calmed down, Gusion asked. Though his expression was calm, he felt a strange excitement—maybe he'd encountered the supernatural.
If he was in another world, could he achieve the dreams he couldn't in that martial-arts-fallen era?
[After signing, Endspace will send you to different worlds to complete tasks, gaining exploration progress, and rewarding you based on performance.]
Gusion grinned. "Sounds interesting. Will there be worthy opponents?"
Endspace paused for a few seconds before replying:
[You will face unprecedented challenges.]
Gusion nodded. "Fine, I'll sign. Becoming an explorer lets me travel to different worlds, right?"
[You must first pass a trial world. Based on your performance, your contract benefits may increase or decrease.]
"Sounds fair. What if I die in the trial world?"
[Just death.]
Just two words. Gusion understood the nature of this place—a cruel realm, but one that might let him fulfill his wishes.
[Trial world about to begin. Explorer, prepare yourself...]
Gusion wanted to ask more, but the transfer had already begun. He felt his body lighten, then dizzying vertigo.
...
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself sitting on the steps of a dilapidated wooden house. On the empty street, only a few ragged, skinny figures wandered.
The summer sun beat down, the heat threatening to evaporate everything.
[Explorer, please check your mission.]
After making sure the surroundings were safe, Gusion called out in his mind, "Endspace."
A translucent menu appeared before him, filled with information.
[Mission world: Bleach]
[World type: Derivative]
[World difficulty: Lv.3 ~ ???]
World Overview: Spirit King fallen, the Three Realms settle, millennia of grudges, and the Endspace trial.
Shinigami: High spirit-pressure beings living in Soul Society, fighting Hollows to maintain balance.
Zanpakuto: A system created by Oetsu Nimaiya. Each Shinigami learns their sword's name through soul communion, unlocking powers as they grow.
Hollows: When people die in the human world, their souls' desires corrupt them into Hollows, who have their evolution path.
Quincy: The line of Yhwach, aiming to destroy all Hollows, opposing the Shinigami.
[Current exploration: 0]
[Current Location: Soul Society, North Rukongai, District 80]
[Note: Explorer has been granted knowledge of this world's language.]
[Warning: Explorers must not reveal Endspace information by any means. Offenders will be erased!]
Gusion scanned the world overview, surprised to find that this so-called derivative world was based on a real manga.
With changing times, few people in his world read manga anymore. He only read them as a kid, sneaking into his master's storeroom after training.
His master's collection wasn't large, but by coincidence, it included Bleach. He knew something about this world—just not which timeline he was in.
He composed himself and began checking his mission.