Fated Adventure.

Power. It was the one thing respected across worlds, whether in Bleach, Douluo Dalu, or even by someone like Saeko Busujima. Strength was an unshakable force, an undeniable truth.

And today, many of them would witness Ryan's full power for the first time.

Inside the dream space, a perfect replica of Earth had been crafted. The girls stood in their spirit forms, watching from a third-person perspective, their eyes locked onto Ryan as he stood alone on the empty field.

Then, nine silver rings materialized behind him, floating ominously as an overwhelming force radiated from his body. His war hammers appeared in his grasp, their presence alone distorting the space around them. The air vibrated. The ground trembled beneath his feet, groaning under the sheer weight of his existence.

A primal instinct surged through those watching—fear, excitement, admiration.

Then, Ryan's body grew.

In an instant, he shot up to nearly a hundred meters tall, his armor expanding with him, his war hammer adjusting to match his newfound scale. He now stood as a titan, a force of nature beyond comprehension.

"That's… just unfair," Apacci murmured, gulping as she felt the sheer pressure of his aura.

Then, he moved.

His right arm lifted, gripping the hammer with absolute authority. In a single instant, eighty-one devastating strikes layered upon each other, compounding the force until it reached an inconceivable magnitude.

And then, the final blow descended.

The moment the hammer met the earth, the world shattered.

A colossal crater punched straight through the planet's surface, ripping open the crust and exposing the burning core beneath. Fire and molten rock erupted in an apocalyptic inferno, consuming everything within its wake. The sheer force of the impact sent tremors that rippled across the globe, throwing the world into chaos.

The planet shifted.

Ryan's voice thundered across the collapsing world, deep and resounding like a god's decree: "He lamented that the earth bore not a handle so he could pick it up and wield it as a weapon. So in his rage, he destroyed it."

The planet could no longer hold. The core destabilized, the very foundations of the world breaking apart as lava and fire spewed in all directions. Chunks of landmass crumbled into oblivion, the sky darkening with the dying cries of the shattered world.

Silence followed.

Then, gasps.

Awe. Shock. Horror.

And something else.

For some, their eyes glowed with lust. For others, admiration. Devotion. Love.

Ryan turned back to face them, his form still towering, the remnants of a planet dissolving into cosmic dust behind him.

And in that moment, none could deny it.

He was power incarnate.

~~~~~

Ryan's display of power left an undeniable impact, but none felt it as profoundly as the Hollows.

Harribel, Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun had always known he was strong—Hollows were instinctively drawn to power, after all—but they had never truly grasped the depths of his strength. Now they knew. What they had sensed before had been nothing but the faintest echo of his true might. With that revelation, any lingering doubt or hesitation vanished. He had earned their respect.

For Stark, the experience was freeing in a different way. Her entire life had been a lonely one—her immense power had always killed anyone who got too close. But now? That was no longer a problem. Becoming a Vizard had given her complete control over her spirit energy. She didn't have to worry about hurting those around her anymore. She was finally free to enjoy companionship.

And she did. Alongside Nel, she was one of the most physically affectionate, never hesitating to lean on, cling to, or outright drape herself over Ryan whenever she pleased.

The least affected—at least outwardly—was Ulquiorra. But that wasn't because she wasn't impressed. No, she had made her choice from the very beginning. Whether Ryan was the strongest being in existence or just another lost soul in the void, it wouldn't have mattered. She had chosen to follow him, and nothing would change that. She would watch over him quietly, support him without question. In that sense, she wasn't unlike a certain purple-haired assassin who lurked in the shadows, ever watchful.

Of course, it wasn't just the Hollows who were awed.

Zhu Zhuqing had always carried a quiet fear in the back of her mind—that her family, with their vast resources and ruthlessness, might one day find a way to drag her back. That fear was gone. After witnessing what Ryan could do, she understood that her past could never touch her again. She was safe.

Saeko, on the other hand, was deeply affected. She had always found power attractive—it was simply part of who she was. And while she had once been nothing more than a normal human, she had no regrets. If anything, she was relieved. She wanted to be Ryan's blade, his sword to hold. And after learning more about him, after seeing the kind of man he truly was, she had no doubt that she had made the right choice. Ryan was not a mindless butcher. He didn't slaughter innocents. He didn't harm those who didn't deserve it. Nearly every woman in his orbit had been saved by him in one way or another. Some had chosen to follow him out of gratitude, others out of opportunity, but none regretted their decision. Their lives were better with him. More exciting. More fulfilling.

For Xiao Wu, the reasoning was even simpler. In the world of Spirit Beasts, power was king. Ryan possessed power beyond anything she had ever imagined. Over the years, she had grown attached to him, to the girls, to the strange and wonderful family they had built. And as time passed, that attachment had evolved into something more.

And then there were the ones for whom loyalty wasn't even a question. Yue. Serenity. Fleur. Rachel. Hermione. Luna.

For them, betrayal was impossible.

They weren't just with Ryan. They were his, bound not by force, but by love so deep it was imprinted into their very souls. If given a choice between betraying him and dying, they would choose death without hesitation.

Because, in the end, there was no life for them without Ryan.