The name was familiar. Very familiar.
The instant Qin Yi heard the name "Yasuo," he was reminded of his college days in his previous life, staying up late in the dorms playing five-man ranked games with his hopeless teammates.
'The Unforgiven... Yasuo.'
His eyes narrowed. That was the first person who came to mind.
"Where is he now?"
"In the north, Your Majesty. Yasuo has already reached the northern front," the soldier answered quickly, panic evident on his face.
The north housed the Parliamentary Institute, the command center of the entire Qin Nation army. Every order originated there before being sent across the battlefield. If anything happened to the Parliamentary Institute, the whole nation would be affected.
"The Parliamentary Institute..." Qin Yi immediately realized the seriousness of the situation.
His gaze briefly swept over the defeated Aizen lying on the ground. "Tie him up. After the war ends, imprison him in the Underworld."
With those words, Qin Yi disappeared.
---
'Soul Society - Northern Qin Nation Army'
Gandalf stood in the sky, looking down.
Below him, a lone figure steadily advanced. He wasn't especially tall, nor was he particularly muscular. Yet every step he took pushed the entire Qin Nation army backward.
One man. One sword. Walking forward without pause.
His blade was unbelievably fast, silent as the wind itself. So fast that no one could react.
Behind him stretched a long corridor through the battlefield. The army lining both sides hadn't even realized they had been defeated.
"What... that's Yasuo?" Gandalf looked surprised.
"Yes," a Parliamentary Institute officer answered solemnly. "The experts defending the eastern, western, and southern fronts have all been defeated. None of them could survive even a single exchange. His strength has already surpassed everything we currently understand."
Gandalf nodded slowly. "It has. The fluctuations from his power have already reached something close to the Moonlight Realm."
He fixed his eyes on Yasuo below.
Yasuo continued advancing alone. Every casual swing of his sword sent another group of Qin Nation soldiers collapsing. He never killed anyone; he merely robbed them of the ability to fight. Because of that, the Qin Nation army hadn't completely lost control in a suicidal counterattack.
"This is the last army," Yasuo spoke quietly. "Once I defeat all of your experts... my promise will be fulfilled. And that man... will send me home."
There was unmistakable nostalgia in his voice. He had left that world long ago, and too much time had passed.
But that didn't matter. Fallen leaves always return to their roots.
"Yasuo!" Gandalf suddenly called out. "You aren't from the Nie Kingdom, are you?"
"You're right." Yasuo looked up and smiled. "I'm not from the Nie Kingdom."
"Then why are you here?" Gandalf asked gravely.
"I made a deal with King Chengdui. If I defeated all of your experts... he would send me back to my homeland."
"I see." Gandalf nodded thoughtfully. "No matter what method he used... the fact that he convinced someone of your caliber to fight for him is astonishing. It seems... we underestimated him. But then again... he was a King."
With a sigh, Gandalf slowly raised his staff. "You seek to defeat every expert of Qin Nation and clear the way for King Chengdui's victory. But that won't be easy. If a victor must be decided... then come."
Yasuo's expression sharpened. From the seemingly ordinary old man before him, he sensed an immense magical power. It wasn't Heroic Power, but it was every bit as formidable.
He slowly raised his sword. Around him, tiny whirlwinds appeared, rapidly merging into larger wind vortexes before gathering around the blade.
"Death is like the wind... always by my side. Wind Technique: Breath of the Gale!"
'Boom!'
A terrifying aura erupted from Yasuo. It was vast, righteous, and overwhelming, like the blazing sun hanging high in the sky.
Heroic Power—the power unique to Yasuo's world.
Everyone present felt an enormous pressure. Yet at the same time, their fighting spirit rose. Their courage, their determination... every positive emotion was amplified.
Gandalf's eyes became more serious than ever. This opponent was unlike any expert he had ever faced; his strength was terrifying.
"Holy Light!"
Brilliant white radiance burst from the tip of Gandalf's staff. Within moments, it condensed into a blazing sphere of light, like a miniature white sun.
As Qin Nation grew stronger, so did Gandalf. Even Qin Yi had never figured out exactly how Gandalf cultivated. His power seemed to advance alongside Qin Nation's civilization while following an entirely separate system.
One thing, however, was certain: among all of Qin Nation's experts, Gandalf was the most unfathomable.
Scorching heat and raging winds swept across the battlefield. The atmosphere reached its peak; the decisive clash was only moments away.
Then—a figure appeared in the sky between them.
"Yasuo." The newcomer softly spoke his name.
Yasuo froze. The sword he was about to swing stopped midair.
Gandalf also lowered his staff. "Your Majesty!"
Qin Yi stood in the sky, looking down at Yasuo. "King Chengdui is dead. The Nie Kingdom now belongs to Qin Nation. Everything you've done... has already lost its meaning."
His calm words instantly changed everyone's expressions.
The Qin Nation soldiers erupted with joy. The warriors of the Nie Kingdom were stunned, their faces turning pale after sensing the world's changes for themselves.
"Oh? King Chengdui is dead?" Yasuo looked genuinely surprised, his expression gradually becoming complicated.
After a long silence... he slowly sheathed his sword. "So... what was the point of everything I've done?"
Qin Yi smiled. "Then stop fighting."
But the next moment, Yasuo gripped the hilt once more.
"No. I made him a promise, and I intend to keep it. Every expert of Qin Nation... must be defeated. Let this be... my final tribute to King Chengdui."
His gaze once again became razor-sharp as he stared directly at Qin Yi.
Qin Yi spoke calmly. "I know the agreement you made with Chengdui. And I can fulfill the same promise. I can send you back to your homeland."
Yasuo's expression changed. "You... you know me?"
Qin Yi looked down at him. "The Unforgiven. Yasuo. A swordsman from Ionia. I know everything about you, Yasuo."
His majestic voice echoed across the battlefield. At that moment, he seemed like an all-knowing god looking down upon the world.
Yasuo's grip tightened around his sword, his pupils contracting.
(End of Chapter)