Chapter 213

The Invisible Empire.

In the conference room, Yhwach, the King of Quincy, sat upon his high throne……

At this moment, Yhwach's expression showed utter coldness; as an absolute ruler, he looked down upon the assembled members of the Star Cross Knights gathered below him!

Unlike before, this time in response to the king's summons, the Star Cross Knights in full—from Holy Letter A to Holy Letter Z, all twenty-six letters—including the crown prince Ishida Uryū, the imprisoned Gremmy Thoumeaux, the holder of Holy Letter S, Mascudo Masculin, and his attached ability James, plus the Y brothers, totaling twenty-eight people, have all gathered here……

After the twenty-eight Star Cross Knights came their retinues; among them, the blond female knight whom Haschwalt trusted most, whose basic Quincy ability even surpassed some Star Cross Knights, was plainly present~

Following those Star Cross Knight guards were the specially armored, masked special troops of the Invisible Empire—the Soldat—and the ordinary Quincy.

As for the Arrancar captured by Ishida Uryū from Hueco Mundo, they had no right to stand here; even if they joined the Invisible Empire, they could only kneel at the very rear of all Quincy, continually bowing before the exalted Yhwach.

However, at this very moment, the Quincy assembled here, together with the Arrancar personally remade into Quincy by Yhwach, constitute the entirety of the Invisible Empire's fighting force.

"Report, Your Majesty, the full strength of the Invisible Empire has been assembled!"

After the conference room filled with people, Yhwach's confidant Haschwalt stepped forward to Yhwach's side, speaking respectfully with bowed head.

"Is that so? Then……"

"Next, let us hear the movement of peace!"

Yhwach on the throne, hearing this, curled the corner of his mouth slightly.

"Ebern! Luders! Vincent! Tolle……"

"Go to Soul Society and tell those complacent fools!"

"The bell of fate has rung; the holy war begins!"

Yhwach softly spoke the names of those Arrancar kneeling in utter humiliation behind the Quincy, and assigned tasks to those Arrancar he had granted Quincy power.

"Yes, sir!"

Though they had worn looks of humiliation, gritted their teeth, and wished to slaughter the surrounding Quincy, upon hearing Yhwach's call they instantly rallied!

Indeed, they were not the lowest, despised stratum of the Invisible Empire; they were the powerful fighting force valued by Yhwach~

For a moment, those Arrancar showed a hint of pride toward the surrounding Quincy; in return, the Quincy standing around them looked upon the Arrancar with nothing but endless contempt……

They are merely Arrancar; how could they possibly attain a status above the Quincy in the Quincy's empire? What a joke……

"Go~"

Yhwach said, waving his hand at those Arrancar.

"Yes, sir!"

Those Arrancar, hearing this, dared not delay; they immediately received Yhwach's order, rose from the floor, stepped back out of the conference room, then turned, held their heads high, and marched stride by stride outward.

"Your Majesty, those Arrancar will likely not return alive."

After those Arrancar departed, Yhwach's deputy Haschwalt immediately spoke softly to Yhwach.

"I know! They're just Arrancar; we can capture as many of this caliber as we want from Hueco Mundo, so I told you we should thank Aizen for his support of our Invisible Empire~"

Yhwach, hearing Haschwalt's words, slightly raised the corner of his mouth and scoffed.

"Ishida Uryū."

Immediately afterward, Yhwach seemed to think of something and turned his gaze to the nearby Ishida Uryū.

"Your Majesty, I……"

Hearing this, Ishida Uryū at once stepped up before Yhwach.

"Go to the living world and hold off the special war potential Ichigo Kurosaki."

Yhwach issued the command to Ishida Uryū.

"Yes, sir!"

Upon hearing it, Ishida Uryū immediately knelt on one knee and accepted the order.

"Special war potential?!"

After Ishida Uryū received his order……

Among the Quincy present, someone showed a puzzled expression.

"How? Haven't I told you yet about the battle strength of our enemies, the Shinigami guarding Soul Society, the Thirteen Court Guard Companies?"

Yhwach, hearing this, instantly gave a cold glance toward the speaker.

"Um……"

The speaker, after meeting Yhwach's gaze, immediately showed a look of fright, deeply bowed his head, and muttered softly: "Your, Your Majesty! I, I, I didn't mean that……"

"No matter! Haschwalt, explain the enemy's strength to them clearly!"

However, contrary to everyone's expectation, Yhwach did not blame the interrupting Quincy, but instead ordered his side's Haschwalt.

Indeed, since battle is imminent, Yhwach will not lose a strong-blooded Quincy over such a trifle.

"Yes, sir, Your Majesty!"

Haschwalt, hearing this, immediately bowed respectfully to Yhwach.

Then, having received Yhwach's order, Haschwalt began speaking before all the Quincy present: "Everyone, please remember well: our enemies have seven special war potentials, namely the current commander of the Thirteen Court Guard Companies, Araki; the former commander, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni; the present Kenpachi, Zaraki; the Shinigami substitute, Ichigo Kurosaki; the rebels of Soul Society, currently imprisoned in Muken, Aizen Sōsuke; the creator of the Hōgyoku, whose intellect surpasses all, Urahara Kisuke; and the enigmatic 'Royal Special Service,' the commander of the Zero Division guarding the Soul King Palace, Kirinji Ichibē."

"Araki, Genryūsai, Zaraki, Aizen, Ichigo, Urahara, and even Kirinji?!"

"I see, indeed seven people! Very well, I'll take them all on myself—after all, I'm the strongest~"

Gremmy, with his disheveled blond hair and a carefree expression, at this point briefly listed the titles and names of Araki and the others, and decided to slay all the special war potentials~

"Um……"

As Gremmy spoke, the Quincy crowd immediately stirred.

Many Quincy, including Star Cross Knights, showed fear toward Gremmy; moreover, some whispered: "Damn it, why did His Majesty let this monster out? He doesn't distinguish friend from foe in battle—he'll annihilate both enemies and allies alike……"

"Heh, abbreviating those ridiculously long titles like ghosts is indeed a good thing, but Gremmy, remember not to do anything that disrupts His Majesty's plans, and recall what I once told you?"

At the moment everyone feared Gremmy, Ririto came to his side and, like an old friend, softly reminded him.

"All right, all right, I know……"

I won't easily make a move~

Games, after all, are only interesting if you play them slowly~

If I were to go all out right from the start, wouldn't the game between the Quincies and the Soul Reapers be no fun?!

Gelei Mi heard the words, gave a light smile, and lightly shrugged his shoulders at the assembled members of the Star Cross Knights.

"Hah..."

As Gelei Mi began to speak, the assembled members of the Star Cross Knights finally let out a breath of relief.

"Besides these few!"

"I have several targets here that require everyone's special attention!"

"Among them, in our battle against the Shinigami, the primary target we Quincy must eliminate is named Quebu Changlang!"

Hasuowode continued to mutter after Gelei Mi closed his mouth.

"Quebu Changlang?!"

As Hasuowode's words fell, the Quincy present were instantly stunned.

"Yes..."

Hasuowode heard this and lightly nodded.

"What's so special about this guy?"

The members of the Star Cross Knights looked at Hasuowode and asked.

"Hmm..."

Although don't look at him as not being a member of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads! But he is a genuine captain-level Shinigami who has mastered the Bankai of his Zanpakuto, and his existence is a huge threat to us Quincy~

Hasuowode said, not forgetting to glance at Yuhabach seated on the throne.

To be frank, Hasuowode is now at a loss for words, but he simply cannot tell the truth to everyone present, telling them that a thousand years ago, it was this old Quebu Changlang?!

Doesn't the Quincy King, Yuhabach, care about saving face?!

"Cough cough~"

At that moment, Yuhabach lightly coughed twice.

Signaling everyone to quiet down……

"Quebu Changlang's Bankai is very dangerous!"

Only seeing, Yuhabach looked at those present and spoke softly.

"So that's how it is!"

"Truly worthy of His Majesty Yuhabach, he managed to single-handedly pull out all the most dangerous enemies among them!"

"His Majesty Yuhabach will prevail! The Invisible Empire will prevail! The Quincy will prevail!"

As the Quincy engaged in a bout of wishful thinking about Yuhabach……

Not long after, cheers erupted throughout the meeting hall from the Quincy for their king and the great Quincy Empire!

"……"

At this moment, only those who had experienced the battle a thousand years ago……

Clearly knowing why their Quincy King Yuhabach wanted Quebu Changlang dead, those Quincy lowered their heads slightly.

Because only when those who experienced it back then have all died can Yuhabach's black history be completely erased from this world.

After all, Yuhabach is an omniscient and omnipotent king; how could his life have such an embarrassing moment? Absolutely not!

"Everyone, withdraw!"

Not long after, Yuhabach seemed to grow weary of the Quincy's cheers, and thus spoke coldly to those present.

"Yes, sir!"

As Yuhabach's words fell……

The Quincy present, without any hesitation, immediately and uniformly bowed to Yuhabach, then turned and walked out of the meeting hall's doors.

"Now then, let us quietly enjoy these last peaceful days before the final holy war arrives~"

After all the Quincy had left the meeting room, Yuhabach narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke in a low voice. However, aside from him, there was no one else in his chamber, and it was unclear whom he was whispering to.

It was also exactly one hour after Yuhabach issued his orders.

Hasuowode emerged from the shadows of the room, walked straight to stand before Yuhabach, and spoke softly: "Your Majesty, among the Star Cross Knights, some have followed the Arrancar to the Seireitei; it seems someone intends to seize the opportunity to claim merit—should I recall them?!"

"No need, let them go~"

"Even if they end up dying in the Seireitei because of this, it's their own doing!"

Yuhabach, hearing this, lightly waved his hand at Hasuowode.

"Yes, sir!"

Having received Yuhabach's order, Hasuowode immediately headed toward the shadows behind him, and his snowy white figure gradually faded into a pitch-black darkness.

"Next, Araki, I hope you don't disappoint me~"

Yuhabach said this, closed his eyes, and seemed to fall into sleep.

At the same time, the Seireitei.

"First Division's Armory."

Araki sat quietly in the office, looking at the documents in his hands.

"Hum!"

As a gentle breeze blew outside the window……

The moment it blew the documents stacked on Araki's desk all over the floor.

In that armory, in a corner unreachable by fiber-optic light, there suddenly appeared a group of soldiers wearing white cloaks and half-transparent reflective masks on their cheeks.

"Who goes there?"

It was precisely at the moment those soldiers appeared……

Araki, who had been lowering his head to review documents, slightly lifted his head.

Hehe, is this the office of the First Division's captain?

As the office of the Guardian Thirteen Squads' captain, there isn't even a guard—are the Soul Reapers really that lax!!

The soldier, hands behind his back, looked at Araki and asked with a light smile.

Is this the question I'm asking you?

In response, a flicker of coldness flashed across Araki's eyes.

Hehe, sorry, I have no obligation to answer your question!

The soldier still wore a cold sneer, presenting an unruly, defiant attitude toward Araki.

Then you have no reason to exist!

In response, Araki raised his finger toward that soldier.

What did you say!!

The soldier obviously didn't know what was coming next; he looked at Araki with an icy expression and asked.

White Lightning!

Araki didn't chant, nor did he recite the number of the Bakudo.

The moment Araki uttered the two words 'White Lightning,' a bolt of lightning as thick as a bowl's mouth had already pierced through the head of the soldier who had just been defiant toward Araki.

Plop~

Immediately after, accompanied by a crisp sound……

The fellow who had been insolent to Araki had turned into a headless corpse, lying on the ground, completely breathed his last~

What!!

As that person fell, everyone present's faces changed.

They never imagined Araki would kill someone on the spot over a disagreement, nor did they expect his strength to be this great! In the brief moment before they could react, he had already struck down their comrade!

Faced with Araki's sudden attack, they couldn't even think of defending, let alone fleeing—it became a luxury! The gap between them and Araki was truly too great! For a moment, the emotion of fear kept brewing in everyone's hearts~

So then, you can answer my question now!!

Without giving them time to think, Araki's voice continued to echo in their ears.

Um……

At that moment, everyone present, looking at Araki, had their eyes grow a bit solemn, and some even began to tremble in their legs.

If it's just a reply, you wouldn't need so many people, would you?

Araki looked at the trembling crowd before him, a hint of teasing appearing in his eyes.

Huh?

The moment Araki's words fell, everyone was instantly enveloped by fear!

Boom!

The next second, another five people's heads were completely obliterated by a wave-like White Lightning!

What!!

In an instant, the remaining four were greatly startled.

Four left~

But I only need one—why should I kill those three!!

Immediately afterward, everyone heard Araki's hoarse voice faintly echoing in their ears.

Hiss!

In an instant, the last four on the scene felt a cold surge burst through the tops of their heads! Leaving their minds in despair and fear~

At the same time, inside the White Gate.

Unlike the outer gate guarded by the Dou Dan Fang, the interior of the four great gates of the Seireitei is normally guarded by rotating squads of the Guardian Thirteen Squads……

The commander of each gate's guard detachment is at least a lieutenant-level Soul Reaper.

And the White Gate at this time is no exception.

Today, those responsible for guarding the White Gate are none other than the Fourth Detachment of the First Division, led by Kurayashiki—the 'Hollow Realm' assault team!

By the way, after Ashiato, Shusuban Seigen, and the Miyanoue siblings finished their duty of guarding the Hollow Realm to monitor Aizen, they have now returned to the Fourth Detachment led by Kurayashiki……

There is no doubt that the Fourth Detachment currently led by Kurayashiki is the strongest in overall combat power among all detachments under the First Division. However, at present, Kurayashiki does not seem to be at the White Gate; instead, the Miyanoue siblings are in charge of the overall situation~

Hey hey hey! You guys are Soul Reapers!!

Just as Kurayashiki was yawning while standing before the White Gate, a shadow untouched by sunlight appeared; at a moment when no one noticed, a tremor and distortion occurred, and a burly man with a full beard suddenly appeared before the members of the Fourth Detachment, shouting loudly at those present.

Huh? An intruder detected! Is it a calamity?

The members of the Fourth Detachment, who had been lounging lazily, upon seeing the white-clad, bearded, ferocious-looking man resembling a wild boar before them, all perked up and drew their zanpakutō from their waists.

Calamity? Don't call me by the name you give to trash!

This burly man, huge in stature, looked at the Soul Reapers before him with a hint of contempt in his eyes.

I am the supreme combat power of Yuhabach's Invisible Empire, Dorisuku Beruhi of the Star Cross Knights! I have been granted the Holy Script 'O,' my ability is mass slaughter! You should have played the game, right? In the game, the characters we control can raise their level and power by killing NPCs~

Just as you thought! Exactly, my ability is to increase my power through slaughter; although I am still not strong enough to challenge the top-tier forces His Majesty Yuhabach spoke of, if I kill everyone here, I can become the strongest knight in the Star Cross Knights! By then, even the top-tier forces will absolutely not be a match for me, Dorisuku Beruhi……

That burly man, namely Dorisuku, one of the Star Cross Knights, shouted loudly at the members of the Fourth Detachment present.

Are you crazy!!

In response, the members of the Fourth Detachment twitched the corners of their eyes.

They completely couldn't understand what Dorisuku was saying!

……

In response, Duolisike's expression gradually turned cold.

"Looks like you completely didn't understand what I meant~"

"Forget it, this is fine!"

"From now on, you'll slowly experience it with your bodies and lives!"

Duolisike said this, and his figure instantly turned into a blur.

"So fast!"

For a moment, the members of the Fourth Squad, who had been on high alert, suddenly changed expression. They hadn't expected that this madman's strength would be so great!

"Got it!"

At the same time, Duoliske already revealed his savage grin, swinging his huge iron fist toward the Fourth Squad members' heads.

"Clang!"

At this critical moment, two figures suddenly flashed by……

One of the figures moved the soldier that Duoliske had aimed at out of the way.

The other figure blocked Duoliske's iron fist with their Soul-Cutter Sword.

"Got it! Saved!"

"It's the Miyano siblings……"

As those two figures appeared, the Soul Reaper soldiers present all relaxed.

After all, the Miyano siblings who came to support them now have Spiritual Pressure reaching at least Third Grade Spiritual Might, have successfully mastered Bankai, and are Captain-level Soul Reapers~

"Huh?!"

Duoliske didn't expect that the lamb he had in his grasp could still be rescued; his expression instantly filled with fury as he looked at Miyano Tengwan, who blocked his Soul-Cutter Sword, and he roared: "Who are you? You can actually block my attack……"

"I'm Miyano Tengwan! Seat Officer of the First Division!"

Miyano Tengwan said this, directly releasing his Soul-Cutter Sword; his right arm suddenly grew a bracer, a long military sword extending from that bracer on his right arm, and he swung the sword in his hand at Duoliske.

"Clang!"

However, Miyano Tengwan did not, as he imagined, use his Soul-Cutter Sword to successfully cut open Duoliske's chest; instead, upon touching Duoliske's chest, he was bounced off by the muscles there.

"What?!"

Miyano Tengwan looked puzzled, gazing at Duoliske's chest, which was emitting one bright, strange pattern after another—exactly those patterns that blocked his attack.

"Hehe~"

In response, Duoliske showed a wicked smile.

Then he fiercely swung his fist at Miyano Tengwan!

"Boom!"

Before Miyano Tengwan could think further, he was sent flying by Duoliske's punch.

"Brother!"

"Bastard! You dare to attack my brother……"

"Bankai! Dragon Tiger Torture Pill……"

Tengwan's sister Songli, who had just rescued her squad members and hadn't even relaxed yet, saw her twin brother Tengwan sent flying by Duoliske's punch; at that moment Songli went berserk like a furious tigress and directly activated the Bankai of her Soul-Cutter Sword.

"Hahaha! I've been waiting for this moment!"

"Foolish brat! Actually using Bankai against me……"

"If that's the case, I'll gladly take your Bankai!"

After seeing Songli's Bankai, Duoliske hesitated no longer, directly pulling out the Star Seal given to him by Youhabhe, and roared at Songli.

"Boom!"

As Duoliske's words fell……

In the sky, a huge Star Seal suddenly appeared!

The moment that Star Seal opened, endless darkness immediately poured out from within……

That darkness engulfed Songli's Bankai, then plundered it completely!

This is an item developed by Youhabhe using his ability 'Alternate Holy Altar'! It is a tool used by the Quincy to specifically plunder the Bankai of Captain-level Soul Reapers—the Star Seal!

"What?!"

Songli looked at Duoliske, the device that had absorbed her Bankai, her pupils contracting sharply; she could hardly believe what she saw before her eyes.

"Die!"

Duoliske gave Songli no time to think……

He then used the device on his hands to condense a huge Divine Destruction Arrow like a spear, and hurled it at the dazed Songli.

For a moment, Songli seemed already doomed.

"Sister!"

The Miyano Tengwan who had just been sent flying by Duoliske and struggled up from the dirt showed an even more despairing expression, endless anguish flashing in his eyes.

At this moment, Miyano Tengwan no longer had time to rescue his sister; he could only watch helplessly as the enemy attacked her with a spear, unable to do anything……

"Oh dear, oh dear~"

"I just went to take a nap, and the White Dao Sect is about to slip away!"

Just as the Divine Destruction Arrow was about to reach Miyano Tengwan, a carefree figure suddenly descended from the sky, then, in an exaggerated fashion, caught Duoliske's Divine Destruction Arrow barehanded before everyone present and crushed it.

"Huh?!"

Seeing this, Duoliske's pupils twitched slightly.

It seems that Duoliske at this moment still doesn't understand what just happened before his eyes—after all, crushing a Divine Destruction Arrow with bare hands seems utterly unbelievable……

"Captain!"

Exactly at that moment, the recovered Miyanō siblings, together with all the members of the 4th Division, immediately spoke respectfully to the newcomer.

Yes, this tall, long-haired, free-spirited man who descended from the heavens is none other than the captain of the 4th Division, Kuya-shiki.

"Who are you?!"

Dorisuke looked at the man before him, his expression showing a hint of doubt.

"The one who will kill you!"

Kuya-shiki walked up to Dorisuke, and as he drew his Zanpakutō, he spoke calmly.

"Huh? Foolish..."

Upon hearing this, Dorisuke flashed a hint of coldness on his face, and with a wave of his hand he condensed another huge divine annihilation arrow.

"As shown, you only have this boring trick left!"

"Then you had better step back quickly!"

Seeing this, Kuya-shiki blocked the divine annihilation arrow in Dorisuke's hand with one hand, then swung his Zanpakutō at Dorisuke's neck.

"Hahaha! Idiot! How could your sword possibly hurt me?!"

Dorisuke looked at Kuya-shiki's action and couldn't help but let out a loud laugh.

However, before Dorisuke could think further, he felt his neck as if pierced by something sharp, and immediately felt the world spin...

By the time Dorisuke reacted, he had already heavily fallen from the air!

As Dorisuke fell, he saw his own headless body continuously spewing blood!

"Huh? How is that possible?! My body wrapped in the Silent Blood Armor couldn't possibly be scratched by a mere Zanpakutō! That little girl earlier couldn't hurt me, yet she can use Bankai, she must be a captain of the Gotei 13, right? How could this happen?"

Even on the brink of death, Dorisuke still didn't understand how he had died.

Unfortunately, Dorisuke still didn't understand......

As fellow captain-level Shinigami, the gap between third-class and first-class spiritual pressure was far more exaggerated than he imagined~

"Captain, my Bankai was taken by him using that strange thing."

At the same time, Miyanō Shōri called out to Kuya-shiki in a coquettish voice.

"Huh? The enemy actually has the ability to seal Bankai?"

"This must be reported immediately to General Araki......"

Upon hearing this, Kuya-shiki's expression changed instantly; he picked up the device used to seal Miyanō Matsuri's Bankai from the corpse of Dorisuke.

Meanwhile......

Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Institute.

"Hahaha! Go die!"

A dark-skinned man with white short hair and an extraordinarily tall, gorilla-like build was constantly roaring! As this gorilla-like man's roar rang out, the entire building of the 【Spiritual Arts Institute】 collapsed instantly!

"Ah!!"

Inside the 【Spiritual Arts Institute】, students' screams kept coming.

For a moment, the sense of fear kept spreading among the students.

However, fortunately the teachers of the 【Spiritual Arts Institute】 were not pushovers; they each employed powerful Kidō, constantly blocking the attacks of this gorilla-like man!

Although these teachers' Kidō could not harm the gorilla-like man, they succeeded in reducing the damage he inflicted on the 【Spiritual Arts Institute】 to a minimum......

Until a bald old man and a middle-aged gentleman with grayish-white short hair stood before this gorilla-like man, did the constantly roaring gorilla finally cease his attack!

"Who among you is Jakubu Chōjirō?!"

The gorilla-like man looked at the old man and the gray-haired gentleman before him and spoke coldly.

"You're looking for me?!"

Upon hearing this, the gray-haired gentleman frowned slightly and stepped forward.

"Are you Jakubu Chōjirō?!"

"If so, then go die!"

"Hahaha! Your Majesty Yhwach, the person you wanted to kill—I've killed him for you......"

Upon hearing that, the muscular man leapt into midair, baring his fangs and claws as he lunged at Jakubu Chōjirō! Though the sight of his bared fangs and claws startled Jakubu, he reacted quickly, drawing his own Zanpakutō and shouting, "Bankai!"

"Hehe!"

Upon hearing the man's words, the gorilla-like man's eyes lit up, and he instinctively reached for the star insignia at his waist! If he not only killed Jakubu Chōjirō but also took his Bankai, surely His Majesty Yhwach would surely reward him~

"Boom!!"

Unfortunately, before the gorilla-like man could act, a scorching flame had already burned half of his body to ashes! In less than a second, he vanished into the endless blaze.

"Ding~"

At the same time, Genryūsai gently sheathed his Zanpakutō.

If it weren't for the lingering smell of burnt charcoal in the air just now, the flames and the gorilla-like intruder of the 【Spiritual Arts Institute】 would seem to have never existed~

"Lord Genryūsai!"

As Jakubu Chōjirō was about to unleash Bankai against the enemy, he saw the steady figure of Genryūsai standing before him, having disposed of the intruder with a single slash, and his expression instantly turned a bit embarrassed—after all, he was right there; how could he let Lord Genryūsai step in?!

"Jakubu, that guy just now was a Quincy......"

Before Jakubu could say more, one saw Genryūsai, who had been perpetually squinting, now open his eyes; a sharp light flashed in his pupils as he gripped his Zanpakutō, his expression utterly cold.

"You said that guy just now was a Quincy?"

"If that's the case, then the intruder must be......"

Upon hearing this, Jakubu Chōjirō's face drastically changed; he looked at Genryūsai and spoke in panic.

"Indeed! It is that very man who, a thousand years ago, led an army to invade the Seireitei, was defeated by my Gotei 13, and, despite my attack, managed to survive—the King of the Quincy, Yhwach!"

Genryūsai lightly nodded and spoke the enemy's name.

"Yhwach?"

Just mentioning this name made Que Bu Guang break out in a cold sweat on his forehead, his whole body trembling as if he had thought of something terrifying...

However, in fact Que Bu wasn't trembling from fear; he was trembling from excessive excitement, with adrenaline surging continuously, which made his whole body shake~

After a thousand years, he can finally stab that man in the back again~

This truly makes one's heart race, emotions surging, ah!

"Let's go! Go to the First Division to find Aramaki~"

Yuan Liuzhai watched his longtime subordinate, who had endured for a thousand years and finally revealed killing intent, and couldn't help but slightly raise the corners of his mouth.

"Mm!"

Que Bu Changjiro, hearing this, immediately nodded lightly.

At the same time, in the First Division's supplies room...

Originally, the ten Broken Masks who had come to provoke Aramaki and declare war on him, personally selected by Youhabah and granted Exterminator powers, now nine of them are dead.

The sole remaining Broken Mask weakly knelt before Aramaki, his body trembling incessantly from fear; looking at his companions slain by Aramaki nearby, he dare not provoke Aramaki any further.

"Ah! Haswode didn't come?"

Aramaki sat in his seat, murmuring to himself.

Aramaki, looking at the Broken Masks he had killed one by one, felt a hint of disappointment! He clearly remembered that in the original story, that old coot Youhabah, when sending a vanguard team to provoke Yuan Liuzhai in the Soul Society, aside from one Broken Mask, the rest were all Star Cross Knights members, even Haswode came, yet here he only got a bunch of Broken Masks?! Obviously that old coot doesn't respect him~

"Aramaki-sama! Your Majesty Youhabah, let me tell you, in five days he will go to the Soul Society to duel you!"

The sole remaining Broken Mask bowed his head toward Aramaki, his voice full of respect for Aramaki! He dared not say anything else, for he knew Youhabah would surely slay Aramaki in five days; he merely tactfully conveyed that Youhabah would fight Aramaki, nothing more! As for Youhabah's orders, they no longer mattered, for before him stood a killer no inferior to Youhabah—saying more would only invite death~

"I understand! You may withdraw~"

Aramaki, hearing this, waved his hand at the Broken Mask before him.

"You? You're letting me go?"

The Broken Mask, hearing this, showed a hint of joy.

In fact, just now there wasn't a lack of Broken Masks planning to flee using the Exterminators' shadow ability, but before they could unfold their Shadow Domain, Aramaki pierced their chests with a single white lightning bolt!

Aramaki's speed was too fast, far beyond their imagination...

Precisely because of that, before Aramaki spoke, he dared not move at all!

"Mm~"

Aramaki, after hearing the Broken Mask's words, lightly nodded.

"Yes, sir!"

The Broken Mask dared not delay, immediately unfolding his Shadow Domain and vanishing before Aramaki.

Obviously, this Broken Mask didn't dare stay before Aramaki any longer; he would rather face Youhabah than face Aramaki, that madman who gives no one a chance to speak and simply obliterates everyone else present~

"Aramaki-sama! Just as you expected! The enemy has also invaded one of the Soul Society's four great gates, the White Way Gate, as well as the Central Spiritual Academy……"

"At the White Way Gate, our First Division's Fourth Division is stationed! Although the enemy is strong, after Captain Kuwushi took action, the Fourth Division has already cleared them! As for the Spiritual Academy, it was personally handled by Lord Yuan Liuzhai~ it's said the enemy has been completely burned to ashes……"

After Aramaki obliterated the Broken Masks, several figures in the First Division uniforms appeared in his outdoor office, wiping clean the pools of Great Hollow corpses and bloodstains on the ground, while a specialist reported the outside situation to him.

"I understand~"

Aramaki, hearing this, merely nodded lightly.

"Aramaki-sama, I have a question I want to ask you!"

"Since you already know, the enemy has the ability to seal captain-level Shinigami's Complete Release, why not warn the Miyanagi sisters and the captains of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads?!"

Just after Aramaki gave that reporting person a slight nod~

A somewhat solemn voice suddenly sounded in Aramaki's ear.

The owner of that voice was none other than Nie Juanli~

As a participant in Aramaki's mass-produced Soul Jade plan, Nie Juanli naturally knew many details of the Shinigami-Exterminator blood war……

During this period, Aramaki had already informed Nie Juanli and Puyuan Xizhu of the name of the ability the Exterminators wield that can seize Shinigami's Complete Release, and how to counter it~

However, Aramaki seemed not intending to use it~

"Hehe! You'll find out soon……"

Aramaki, hearing this, merely gave a light chuckle, seeming not intending to say anything.

Yes, preparing in advance the Hollowfication drug for the Thirteen Court Guard Squads to counter the Exterminators' Star Insignia is indeed convenient! Once a Shinigami undergoes Hollowfication, ordinary Exterminators can no longer seize their Complete Release—this is also true……

However, even if the Exterminators cannot use the Shinigami's Complete Release, they can still wield the power of the Perfect Holy Body granted by Youhabah to continue fighting the Shinigami! Thus, the advantage between Shinigami and Exterminators merely balances out, rather than increasing~

So Aramaki used Plan B, which is actually simple: let the enemy seize the Shinigami's Complete Release!

Then, when the Exterminators thought they had secured victory, wielding the Shinigami's Complete Release to slaughter indiscriminately, Kuchiki Xianghe would use his Soul-Cutting Sword, the ability of the Demon Sword Muramasa, to cause the seized Complete Release to go berserk and materialize!

After all, once Xiaobai had his Complete Release taken by Cangdu, Ice Ring no longer responded to him—this shows that the Star Insignia created by Youhabah actually seizes the tangible sword spirit of the Soul-Cutting Sword, while Xianghe's defection targets the sword spirit's core of the Soul-Cutting Sword~

By then, what the Exterminators will have to face are numerous sword spirits that consume their spiritual pressure and can freely unleash Complete Release, as well as the Thirteen Court Guard Squads captains who infuse all their spiritual pressure into the Soul-Cutting Sword's Initial Release to oppose them!

Moreover, because they use the Complete Release from within the Star Insignia, their connection to it will hinder their use of the Exterminators' Perfect Holy Body~

Thus they can only wield the Holy Script granted by Youhabah and the Exterminators' basic abilities in battle; moreover, since the Soul-Cutting Sword's entity consumes their spiritual pressure, they cannot even exert their own combat power……

Mm, in other words, when the Star Cross Knights arrive here, they're basically finished~

"Youhabah! You don't like seizing Complete Release, do you?"

"Then let you seize enough all at once!"

"Are your Star Insignia preparations sufficient? This Complete Release thing, the Soul Society currently has over a hundred of them!"

Aramaki sat in the First Division's chair, the corners of his mouth slightly turning up.

As for Kuchiki Xianghe in the First Division's barracks, just a wave of his hand and a white bone mask resembling a Roman gladiator's helmet appeared on his face~

Yes, Kuchiki Xianghe has already completed Hollowfication over these two years!

Yes, Xianghe does not consume the Star Insignia~

Ten thousand words, a major chapter!

(Chapter ends)