Chapter 36: Suppress the Crimson Hollow Gate!

Dark!

The sky of the Pure Spirit Court was gloomy and dread-inducing.

Silent!

Amidst the flying flames of war, in the ever-spreading present within the Pure Spirit Court, this silence before the Crimson Hollow Gate appears extraordinarily eerie.

The Quincy from the modern world's Light Empire, who came with the invasion of the Great Emperor Yhwach, now feel despair!

They gazed at the figure sitting quietly on the throne forged from the countless living hearts of the Quincy, and their hearts filled with dread and fear……

The man on the throne gave them a choice, but they could not easily make it! Whether to exchange their companions' skulls for a chance at life, or to heed the man's seduction and swing their blades at their great 'Emperor', both seemed too cruel for them!

"Choice? What choice is there……"

All the Quincy clearly understood this in their hearts.

The man seemed to give them a choice, but in fact he only left them one path……

No matter which path they chose, it was destined that these Quincy who attacked the Pure Spirit Court from the Crimson Hollow Gate would become traitors in Quincy history, forever despised by later generations!

The man said nothing, seemingly giving them time to choose, but those forced to choose could not bring themselves to answer his question.

For a moment, the area before the Crimson Hollow Gate fell into deadly silence, the atmosphere growing ever more eerie.

Thud! Thud! Thud……

When the people fell silent, when the battlefield's 'roar' gradually faded, when the scene fell into dead silence, some sounds originally inaudible were infinitely amplified!

"Thud, thud……" like a drum being struck, rhythmic and dense, continually emanated from the throne beneath the man!

However, the Quincy knew in their hearts that the sound was not a drumbeat, but the throbbing of their own hearts in their chests; though this once comforting beat now sounded piercingly harsh, stimulating every Quincy's nerves……

"You bastard! What kind of joke is this?!"

"I will not betray my comrades! Nor will I betray my emperor……"

"Evil Death God, go to hell!!!"

Finally, a Quincy's spirit collapsed……

He could no longer bear the sight before him, nor could he accept his heart being sat upon and emitting endless wails! Thus he decided to counterattack, momentarily forming an arrow of spirit particles aimed at the throne's Araragi.

"Is this your choice? How pathetic……"

Araragi gazed at this Quincy whose spirit was near collapse, his expression utterly calm, his eyes even hinting at a hint of pity.

"Swish!"

Accompanied by a flash of bright silver blade light, Araragi drew his Soul-Cutting Sword from his waist and, with a backhand thrust, pierced his own 'heart' throne, the rows of hearts forming the left armrest!

"Pfft……"

It seemed to be in response to Araragi's movements……

At the moment the hearts on Araragi's throne exploded one after another, countless Quincy spat blood and collapsed like broken puppets, instantly falling silent……

Tragically, the Quincy who had drawn his bow, preparing to attack Araragi, did not die then.

"Why?!"

This Quincy, whose spirit had collapsed, watched his companions fall one by one nearby, his hand gripping the bow trembling constantly.

Although he had drawn his weapon, although he had resolved to attack Araragi, his hand drawing the bow could not release the arrow, for he feared…… feared that his arrow would land on the throne behind Araragi.

"Sorry! There are too many hearts here; I don't even know which one belongs to you……"

"But it's okay; I can try them one by one—there's bound to be one that's yours here."

Araragi said, and the blade light in his hand swept across the throne once more.

Immediately, another group of Quincy clutched their chests and collapsed, unable to rise……

However, unfortunately, the Quincy who had intended to attack Araragi was still alive.

Thus, the Quincy fell into despair; amidst the grief of his companions' deaths, he lowered his bow, and Araragi's blade also ceased at the moment the Quincy lowered his bow……

"Ha, haha, hahaha……"

"Grief-stricken' and 'desolate' laughter continually issued from this Quincy's mouth; his eyes bloodshot and red, his face twisted and feral like a demon, his gaze toward Araragi filled with 'hatred', yet his knees could only press tightly to the ground as he submitted to Araragi on the throne."

"Thud! Thud……"

After the first Quincy knelt before Araragi, large numbers of Quincy followed suit and knelt……

For a moment, it was as if countless subjects were paying homage to their emperor, and the proud Quincy knelt beneath the heart-throne!

Yet some Quincy held their necks high, straightened their bodies, and glared at Araragi.

They scorned to show submission to Araragi, and feared no death! They were subjects of Yhwach, kneeling only to Yhwach in their lifetimes! And these proud 'Yhwach' subjects refrained from attacking Araragi merely because he held in his hand the lives of countless of their comrades.

"Very good……"

Araragi sat upon the throne, accepting the worship of the crowd, and raising his hand he granted those 'rather die than yield' Quincy the greatest honor! Eternal repose! Immediately, a lapis-light shone across the sky, transforming into streams of light that pierced the bodies of all Quincy standing before the throne who did not perform the rite of kneeling; one after another, those stiff-backed Quincy fell and never rose again, closing their eyes……

"Bring me your companions' heads! Or, take the life of your 'false emperor' for me!"

"Don't try any tricks; I've been watching you……"

Having spoken, Araragi, bearing the countless hearts beneath him, vanished into the thick mist.

"Ah!!!"

As Araragi's figure vanished without a trace, the Quincy all raised their heads and let out anguished howls.

The Quincy realized they now had no choice; for their own sake or for their companions, they could only steel themselves and press on.

Unfortunately, what the Quincy did not expect was that this was merely the beginning of their suffering! From the moment their hearts were torn out by Araragi, their fate was no longer in their own hands.

"This is the Eleventh Division's Captain Araragi; all Quincy who attacked the Crimson Hollow Gate have been subdued!"

"The Quincy's 'Emperor' Yhwach is not at the Crimson Hollow Gate……"

After Araragi departed, he immediately used 'Heaven-Piercing Net' to inform all the captains of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads of his situation.

Even in the talent-rich Pure Spirit Court……

Those who frequently use Bakudō number seventy-seven like Araragi are exceedingly rare! After all, once Kidō reaches the high number seventy, whether it's Bakudō or Hadō, the demands and control over spiritual pressure are extremely high……

As for Araki, thanks to the support of the spirit particles driven by Fullbring, he directly used 'Heaven-piercing Void Net' as his most basic means of communication, so as to ensure he could promptly inform all the squad captains of the Guardian Thirteen Squads of the information he obtained.

Well then, it's time to start cleaning up my battlefield.

Araki looked at the corpses scattered across the battlefield, slightly narrowing his eyes.

Quincy, this kind of thing, can be said to be full of treasures~

Even a Quincy reduced to just a corpse has its unique uses!

Thanks to book friend Haoyue Daoist for the 100-point reward~

(End of chapter)