Silbern Castle - The Cathedral.
Hidden within the shadowed heart of the fortress, no sunlight reached this place throughout the year. Frost clung to every surface, preserving the silence of its halls in layers of biting cold that seemed capable of freezing the very soul. Tall pillars of ice stretched upward, shaped into spire-like formations that mirrored the oppressive majesty surrounding them.
As the ruler of the Wandenreich, His Majesty Yhwach held power and presence as unyielding and divine as the cathedral's frozen towers themselves. The faint blue glow of spirit energy illuminated the vast chamber, casting its occupants in ghostly hues while heightening the chill that hung in the air.
Yhwach appeared at the front of the cathedral and threw back his cloak.
Beneath him stood row upon row of Sternritter soldiers assembled in flawless formation. Among them stood Hideki Yuta, his presence masked by the reflection of Kyōka Suigetsu - the Mirror Flower, Water Moon technique. With Yhwach's eyes remaining closed for the moment, Yuta's disguise went unnoticed.
At the front ranks stood several familiar figures - Jugram Haschwalth, Bazz-B, and the other prominent members of the Sternritter - lined up in solemn anticipation.
"Everyone, raise your crosses and salute his Majesty, Yhwach!" Haschwalth commanded.
Yhwach's deep, measured tone resounded from the altar above. "Are they assembled? The Sternritter?" He lifted his gaze toward the masses far below. "One thousand years ago, we - the Quincy - suffered under the inhumane onslaught of the Shinigami. Countless brethren fell, and our race neared extinction. Since then, we have hidden within the Shadow Realm, enduring disgrace and humiliation for this past millennium. The time of patience has ended. The final battle begins now."
His words spread through the hall like thunder contained in frost. "We will annihilate the Soul Society, eradicate the Shinigami, and restore the eternal glory of the Quincy. Yet, before battle begins, there is one thing I must announce."
Yhwach's attention shifted to the side. "Come forth."
From the adjoining chamber, a man stepped into view - tall, slender, dressed in the white robes of the Quincy with the cross engraved upon his boots. Behind his glasses, his expression was calm and composed, his every movement precise. It was Ishida Uryū.
Bazz-B's brow furrowed the second he saw him. "Who the hell is that guy?" he demanded sharply.
Giselle Gewelle tilted her head with childlike curiosity, tapping her chin with one finger. "Why does he get to stand beside His Majesty?"
Yhwach raised his hand, his tone unwavering. "Ishida Uryū - the last surviving Quincy of the human world. From this moment forward, I name him my successor."
Shock rippled through the assembled ranks.
"What!?"
"Your Majesty's heir?"
"Someone we've barely even heard of?"
"What the hell is happening?"
Bazz-B's glare shifted to Haschwalth on the dais, his fists clenching with agitation. Yhwach continued, his expression unchanging. "There will be no objections. Soon, you will witness his power for yourselves. That is enough."
With that declaration, Yhwach turned and departed, his cloak trailing behind in crisp precision. Ishida followed silently at his side until the door shut behind them with a dull echo that marked the end of the meeting. The hall was left heavy with confusion and suppressed voices.
Bambietta Basterbine exhaled sharply through her nose. "Tch... ridiculous. How annoying." She turned to leave, irritation clear on her face. As she moved through the departing ranks, her gaze caught on someone unfamiliar - Yuta, standing among the Sternritter soldiers, his posture calm and self-assured. Her eyes lingered longer than she intended. He was strikingly handsome, his presence magnetic enough to make her heart skip slightly.
Without thinking further, she strode toward him and stopped close enough for her breath to fog between them. She lifted one finger and pointed directly at him. "Hey, you. I'm in a bad mood. Come to my room - now."
Yuta regarded her with faint amusement, his lips curling upward slightly. "Hi, little Bomby," he replied casually.
Bambietta froze.
Little... Bomby?
Did he actually just call her that?
Her temper flared immediately, heat crawling up her face even through her irritation. She resisted the urge to lash out on the spot, choosing instead to preserve her composure - there would be time later to deal with him properly. With narrowed eyes and clenched teeth, she turned sharply on her heel and walked away, her boots clicking against the frozen floor.
Giselle watched as she left, then turned her attention toward Yuta with playful sympathy. She poked her own cheek with one finger and sighed melodramatically. "What a shame... that cute boy's about to get completely destroyed by Bomby. Though... Bomby‑chan is adorable. So cute, cute, cute... I really do love her~"
Her words drifted away with nervous laughter as the scene dissolved into silence once again.
---
Elsewhere in the castle halls, tension erupted among the Sternritter after the assembly. The sound of impact broke the air as Bazz-B drove his fist into the wall, leaving cracks running through the polished stone. "What the hell was that!?" he shouted. "Who even is that guy? Can someone explain what just happened?"
Seated on one of the long benches, Mask de Masculine tilted back lazily in his chair, his cape draped behind him. "Who's gonna explain it? Only His Majesty could, right?" he replied in his usual dramatic tone, the star-shaped mask shifting slightly as he spoke.
Beside him, the mechanical Quincy Binnaine - Sternritter "K" - leaned forward in thought. The axe-shaped structure of his metallic head reflected the pale light, the slitted vents giving the faint illusion of breathing. "Yhwach's decisions require no justification," his modulated tone declared. "His will is law."
"Damn it," Bazz-B snarled under his breath. "No way I'm just swallowing that!" He stormed toward the exit in anger.
"Hey! Where are you headed?" Mask called after him.
"Where do you think? I'm gonna ask His Majesty myself!" Bazz-B shot back without slowing down.
"Are you crazy?" Mask stood up abruptly. "Bazz-B, you think anyone questions His Majesty and lives!?"
Bazz-B ignored him completely.
At that moment, the door in front of him opened slowly. A figure stepped through, bathed briefly in the corridor's light - tall, composed, and impossibly refined. Blond hair framed his face as cold blue eyes settled on Bazz-B with calm disinterest.
"Haschwalth…"
Bazz-B's fists loosened but his tone remained tense. "Where are you off to?"
Haschwalth's expression remained impassive. "Nowhere. Why are you so agitated, Bazz-B?"
"I should be," Bazz-B shot back with frustration. "I've always believed you would be the one to succeed His Majesty. If it were you, no one among the Sternritter would object. Doesn't this make you angry at all?"
Haschwalth's tone stayed level. "His Majesty's will is everything to me. It is not my place to question it."
Bazz-B's jaw tightened. "Tch... You've really become useless." He clenched his fists again and took another step forward, his eyes bright with restrained fury. "Fine then. If you're just gonna give up your seat so easily - why don't you hand it over to me instead?"
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