Pah!
Drops of blood fell onto the Quincy Disk. They slid across its curved surface and gathered at the lowest point, forming a small pool of red liquid.
It was the blood of Yhwach.
"As long as you drink this blood, the ceremony will be complete, and your power will slowly awaken. The Schrift I grant you is the same ' A ' as mine," Yhwach said calmly.
"Before we begin the ceremony, I want to ask you one thing."
Ishida Uryuu knelt before Yhwach, his eyes fixed on the blood within the chalice. "Why did you choose me as your successor? Naming me as your heir so suddenly will only cause discontent among the Sternritter."
"The reason I chose you is simple. You will understand if you think about it."
Yhwach's tone remained even, but Uryuu stayed silent.
Yhwach tilted his head slightly. "You don't understand?"
"Let me ask you this, Uryuu-why do you think you're alive right now?"
Uryuu's pupils narrowed sharply at those words.
Yhwach's lips curved into a faint smile. "It seems you already know."
"Nine years ago, I personally carried out the Auswählen to purge the impure Quincy bloodlines… and you survived."
He leaned back slightly. "You lived because you possess what even I lack."
"That's why I chose you as the last Quincy-and as my successor."
"There is no reason to doubt, Uryuu. Simply follow me."
Uryuu lowered his head slightly. "Yes."
He lifted the cup and drank the blood without hesitation.
...
Elsewhere.
Bambietta Basterbine felt a strange taste linger in her mouth. It was slightly metallic, faintly sweet-and unnervingly alive.
Her entire body trembled as the power within that blood spread through her veins. It wasn't just her body that reacted; her very soul felt carved open and rewritten. She could sense the one who had granted the power-his will resonating within her spiritual core, capable of crushing her existence with merely a thought.
And that taste-she could not describe it fully. It was intoxicating and overwhelming, flooding her with sensations so intense that her consciousness blurred. It felt almost ecstatic, like drowning in unrestrained pleasure her body had no defense against.
Her breathing quickened as she struggled for control. That single drop of blood had bound her completely.
"From now on… you are Bambi's master," she said softly. "No matter what you command, Bambi will obey you completely."
After years of mental torture under Yhwach and the Wandenreich, the notion of loyalty or pride no longer mattered to her. She only knew obedience-to the person before her now.
Hideki Yuta sat in the chair nearby, his gaze composed. "Stand up," he said evenly.
"Y–Yes!" Bambietta's body trembled slightly as she stood at once.
Yuta reached out and placed his hand gently on her head, his touch calm and measured-like one giving silent reassurance. "Just act naturally. You don't have to change anything. Continue doing what you always do. Understood?"
"Yes… everything according to my master's command."
"Don't call me master."
"Th–then… how should I address you?" she asked hesitantly.
Yuta sensed approaching spiritual pressures and glanced toward the door. "Just act as you normally would."
"I… what were my normal habits again?" Bambietta tilted her head slightly, confusion flickering across her face.
Yuta exhaled slowly. She had been trapped in that pocket dimension for far too long-long enough to forget even herself. He began explaining the situation briefly when footsteps echoed closer from outside.
Moments later, the door opened and four figures entered-three women and one androgynous individual.
Liltotto Lamperd was the first-a small girl with cropped blonde hair, barely reaching the others' waists. Her indifferent eyes flicked from Yuta to Bambietta. "Oh? Surprising. You didn't kill this one today."
Giselle Gewelle followed next, grinning mischievously. Her twin tufts of hair curved upward, resembling insect antennae. "Don't tell me, Bambi‑chan-you actually like this guy?"
Minina McAllon, with long pink hair and thigh‑high white stockings, laughed lightly. "Well, it's not bad for Bambi to have someone she likes. Just… if you're gonna kill him later, at least do it outside."
Behind them, Candice Catnipp leaned against the frame-tall, athletic, and confident. Her green hair framed sun‑kissed skin and piercing eyes; her clothing exposed the strength in her arms and midriff, the reflection of one accustomed to battle. The Schrift mark of "T" glowed faintly near her shoulder, symbolizing her ability-Thunder.
"Hey," Candice said, her tone edged with sarcasm. "It's not about where she kills them. She should stop picking handsome guys every time she's in a mood."
Yuta looked over them briefly. They each bore the pink heart‑shaped emblem fastened to their belts-clear markers of their division within the Sternritter ranks.
"Girl group" might have been the casual term for the four of them, though Giselle's inclusion always blurred that description.
Minina turned her bright eyes toward Yuta. "I've gotta admit, Bambi, you've picked well this time. So, soldier, what's your name?"
Yuta met her gaze evenly. "Kokoro no Jiuka," he said.
Minina raised a brow, smiling faintly. "Huh? That's a weird name."
"Bambi‑chan, should we throw him out?" Giselle asked in mock concern.
Bambietta tugged slightly on the brim of her hat, her tone returning to composed neutrality. "No. It's fine."
Giselle tilted her head, that same sly smile reappearing. "Such a handsome man… why don't I just turn him into one of my zombies?" She bit her finger and flicked droplets of her blood toward Yuta.
Bambietta's expression turned cold. A reishi bomb formed instantly at her fingertip and launched forward, colliding mid‑air with Giselle's blood before detonating. The explosion tore open part of the wall, smoke and debris filling the room.
Bambietta stepped forward, placing herself between Yuta and the others. "Giselle-if you attack him again, my bombs won't miss next time."
Giselle laughed, raising both hands in mock surrender. "Don't be mad, don't be mad! I was just joking!"
Liltotto's eyes lingered on Yuta. Despite his simple uniform, there was nothing ordinary about the way he carried himself. Even during the brief clash between Bambietta and Giselle, his composure had not wavered once. There was no fear in his expression-not even curiosity, simply calm observation. It was enough to make her question whether he was truly just another soldier among them.
PS GOALS: 150 PS= 5-10 extra chapter on an update.
💕💕
READ 45+ ADVANCED CHAPTER AT MY P@TREON! FOR ONLY 10$
at [email protected] /Zaneninjacat
💕💕
💀💀 gimme powerstones!💀💀