"Is the fight starting?"
Ishida Ryūken squinted slightly, his gaze directed towards the source of the reishi fluctuations.
With just a glance, he felt a sense of discomfort, as if an invisible wave of reishi was pressing down on his body.
Fortunately, he was quite far from the incident, so the impact wasn't too severe.
Otherwise, he might have found it difficult even to breathe.
"I didn't expect there to be such powerful individuals in the Wandenreich besides the Shinigami. Father back then…"
A thought suddenly flashed through Ishida Ryūken's mind about the Sun Gate Key his family possessed.
That was a symbol of the Sternritter.
He wondered where his father had obtained it.
If his father was a member of the Sternritter.
Then, would he recognize this reishi?
Ishida Ryūken instinctively pushed up his glasses. Given the extremely limited information he currently had, he decided to temporarily leave this place.
He knew his limits; this battle was definitely not something he could participate in.
Just as he was about to leave.
Four more reishi appeared within his sensory range.
Upon careful perception, they were all Quincy reishi.
"I don't recognize them."
"It seems the Wandenreich's reinforcements have arrived. I hope Captain Tsugikuni can win. I really don't want to be an enemy of the Shinigami…"
Ishida Ryūken took a deep look in that direction, then pretended not to have seen anything and quickly left the city.
On his way out, he encountered a Shinigami—it was Abarai Renji.
Because Yoriichi Tsugikuni's reishi was too powerful, it had radiated to another city.
After Renji sensed these developments, he chose to come and investigate.
After learning that Captain Tsugikuni's enemy was a Quincy from the Wandenreich… a thought flashed through his mind.
Could it be that the decisive battle had started early?
"Early? No, this is just a test."
Ishida Ryūken gently shook his head, his gaze calm and profound. "I've heard a bit about the conflict between you Shinigami and the Wandenreich."
"Although I'm not sure who the Quincy Captain Tsugikuni is facing are…"
"But clearly, until Yhwach makes an appearance, no battle can be considered a decisive one."
"Perhaps both sides are just gathering information on each other. Shinigami, I advise you to leave here as soon as possible."
"If you don't want to be killed by the residual effects of the battle."
It was currently unclear how far this battle would escalate.
If those Quincy fought with all their might, at any cost, this city would likely be destroyed.
A Shinigami like Abarai Renji, once they got too close, might not even leave ashes behind.
After giving his warning, Ishida Ryūken left directly. He had to go back and ask his father if he knew these people.
If he did, and if those people were lucky enough to escape, perhaps he could "sell" this information to the Shinigami, and in return, obtain something useful.
Renji wanted to ask more questions, but seeing Ishida Ryūken's hurried demeanor, he didn't want to stop him.
He could only stand high in the sky not far from Kanzaki City.
Watching and worrying at the same time.
By the way…
Had Rukia left yet?
…
Twelfth Division.
Kisuke Urahara had just returned from the Gotei 13 and hadn't even had a moment to rest when a Shinigami came to inform him that extremely massive reishi fluctuations had erupted in the Human World.
Those reishi originated from a Quincy.
Roughly estimated.
Their level was at least Grade One or higher.
"Grade One?" Kisuke Urahara frowned. "Has the Wandenreich made the first move?"
As he thought, he didn't stop, quickly walking into the projection room.
This was a place used to monitor the Three Realms.
Several walls were covered with dense screens.
Scenes from the Human World, Hueco Mundo, and various parts of the Soul Society were all displayed on them.
After a quick scan, Kisuke Urahara's gaze immediately fixed on a screen at the edge.
That was precisely where Yoriichi Tsugikuni and Haschwalth were fighting.
"Can we collect their voices?"
Kisuke Urahara turned and asked a researcher.
He rarely came to this place, as monitoring the Three Realms was a very boring job.
Only because he was a Captain, otherwise, he might not have stepped foot here even once in a hundred years.
The researcher beside him nodded:
"We can, but, Captain, I don't recommend you do that."
"Although current technology can collect sound, it requires reishi insects to get close."
"If the reishi permeating the battlefield is too strong, the reishi insects will die before they can even get close."
"Grade One, with all due respect, it's already a blessing that the visuals aren't distorted in a battle of this level."
Kisuke Urahara pondered for a while, deep in thought. This wasn't the first time he had heard that the technology needed improvement and adjustment.
Detecting the Soul Concealing Barrier, monitoring the Three Realms… these aspects seemed to have remained unchanged from a hundred years ago until now.
Was he being too cautious?
—No.
He had to try and make changes.
The appearance of the Wandenreich gave Kisuke Urahara a rare sense of urgency.
As he was thinking, his gaze once again fixed on the screen.
Just then, there was movement behind him. Mayuri Kurotsuchi walked in slowly, a mischievous smile on his face…
…
Human World.
"You must be tired by now."
Yoriichi Tsugikuni watched Haschwalth slightly panting, his tone as calm as ever.
"The Human World is different from the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo; the reishi here is quite sparse."
"For you to expend reishi on such a large scale, even if you are the Captain, even if you are the strongest, you won't be able to sustain it for too long."
"Surrender. You no longer have any chance of winning."
"The two Quincy we captured earlier turned into white bones without any warning…"
Yoriichi Tsugikuni frowned slightly and continued, "That must have been your doing as well."
He wasn't entirely clear on the exact mechanism of turning into white bones, and he had his own concerns.
If he pushed too hard, causing Haschwalth to also turn into white bones, then all his efforts would be in vain.
Haschwalth slightly raised his eyes. He dispelled the bow in his hand, reformed a long sword, and after calming his breathing slightly, he said in a deep voice:
"So what? Traitors have no value in living."
"It is their honor to offer their lives to His Majesty, for His Majesty granted them life and power."
"Everything must prioritize His Majesty's will. Therefore, there has never been a Quincy in the Sternritter who surrendered."
"Shinigami, don't fantasize. If you have the ability, kill me."
Though he said this, Haschwalth had no intention of surrendering.
The move that had just exhausted his strength was not useless.
Under the observation of Balance, Yoriichi Tsugikuni's luck had been weakened to the extreme.
As long as he swung his sword, it would definitely break through defenses; it would no longer be an attack that only damaged weapons.
Haschwalth was about to make his move when Bazz-B's familiar reishi suddenly appeared within his perception.
Not just Bazz-B, but several others as well. Based on their reishi, they were all members of the Sternritter.
"…" Haschwalth's expression changed.
Even though he was always composed, he couldn't help but want to curse at this moment.
Were these guys here to die?
Four of them came at once.
Like dumplings being dropped into a Pot.
…
"Burning Finger, 1!"
The voice arrived before the person.
Just as Haschwalth was questioning reality.
The scorching flames released by Bazz-B instantly transformed into a red beam, like a surging torrent, rushing directly towards Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
The surrounding air was filled with heatwaves, suffocating.
Some trees and flowers, under this high-temperature scorching, curled up one after another, as if facing a catastrophe, and then withered and perished.
The light of the night reflected, making the flames as hot as lava, seemingly wanting to burn everything to ashes.
Bang.
Bazz-B used Hirenkyaku, his figure flashed, and he appeared beside Haschwalth.
He looked at Haschwalth's slightly tired appearance and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow:
"How…"
Before he could finish his sentence, the surging flames attacking Yoriichi Tsugikuni seemed to hit an invisible barrier, instantly disintegrating and dissolving.
Hissing sounds came through.
White steam rose, appearing particularly conspicuous in the night sky.
Bazz-B's attention was instantly drawn, and an alarm blared in his mind.
He immediately prepared Burning Finger 2, his whole body tensed, ready to launch another attack at any moment.
No matter how strong the opponent, caution was always correct.
Cang Du and Berenice Gabrielli followed closely behind.
As for Pot, in this tense situation, he seemed to be automatically ignored by everyone; no one cared if he kept up.
When Haschwalth saw the four appear, an extremely strong sense of absurdity suddenly rose in his heart.
He was about to speak.
Bazz-B interjected, "Was everything that happened earlier done by the Shinigami?"
"Haschwalth, why didn't you tell us?"
"Aren't we Quincy?"
"You, you're really disloyal!"
Saying this, he looked at Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who was calmly walking out from the now dissipated flames, a defiant expression on his face.
"Hey, Shinigami, what did you do to my comrade?"
"Tell me, and maybe I, Lord Bazz-B, will spare your life!"
"Don't think that just because you can beat Haschwalth like this, you can take on all of us alone! I, Lord Bazz-B, am the strongest!"
"The strongest?"
Yoriichi Tsugikuni gazed at Bazz-B for a moment, initially a hint of curious interest rising in his eyes.
But as he carefully sensed the other party's strength, that interest quickly disappeared.
He turned to look at Haschwalth instead.
His gaze seemed to ask, is this guy always this brave?
Where did this reckless fool come from?
Even more reckless than Renji.
Saying the wrong thing in battle can lead to death.
Bazz-B noticed Yoriichi Tsugikuni's gaze—it was a mix of confusion, pity, and surprise.
With just one look, he knew he had been seen through.
Immediately, Bazz-B felt an unknown fire surge from the bottom of his heart, and he roared loudly:
"Hey, what kind of look is that? Do you think I'm weak?"
"Don't underestimate people too much, Shinigami!"
"I, Bazz-B the 'Heat,' can even restrain your Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryusai!"
At this point, as if to prove his words.
Bazz-B went all out.
"Burning Finger, 4!"
In an instant, scorching flames converged into a blade shape, coiling around his entire right hand.
With a gentle swing of his arm.
Boom!
An astonishingly destructive explosion suddenly occurred, like a thunderclap on flat ground, instantly leveling the surrounding park!
The ground was blasted into a massive crater, dust and debris were sent flying everywhere, and waves of fire surged skyward, hot waves rushing outwards in all directions!
The scene, with its power comparable to a close-range missile explosion, was terrifying.
The moment the explosion occurred, the Quincy behind Bazz-B, as if already aware of the power, quickly flew high into the sky.
It was precisely by relying on their extremely agile reactions that they barely managed to avoid being caught by the flames.
"Ha!"
Bazz-B also stood high in the sky, looking at the devastation below. Having personally witnessed Yoriichi Tsugikuni being engulfed by the flames.
He put his hands on his hips, and a smile couldn't help but curl his lips.
In his opinion, taking that hit head-on, even if he didn't die, he would be severely injured.
This was a move even more powerful than Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryusai's Shikai.
A temperature of ten thousand degrees.
Anything would be burned to ashes, turned into nothingness.
"You looked down on me, huh, you deserve it."
Bazz-B chuckled triumphantly. He had been like this since he was a child, and even after growing up and approaching a thousand years old, he hadn't changed in the slightest.
His gaze shifted to Haschwalth, his eyes full of a boastful glint, as if saying, "This is your opponent? He doesn't seem like much."
As he was thinking, suddenly, some subtle movements came from the ground.
Bazz-B subconsciously looked over, and the smile on his face instantly vanished without a trace.
This was because Yoriichi Tsugikuni had actually walked out of the blazing flames unharmed.
The scorching heat, hot enough to instantly melt steel, hadn't even managed to ignite the haori on his body.
Not even a trace of scorching was left...
What exactly was going on?!
"Confused?"
Yoriichi Tsugikuni slightly raised his eyes, his calm gaze fixed on Bazz-B in the sky.
He reached out and brushed the dust off his body, his tone as if discussing a trivial matter,
"No need to be confused. Any direct attack or Kido-based ability that appears using reishi must follow a rule to be effective."
"That is, spiritual pressure."
"Your spiritual pressure is inferior to mine; you cannot penetrate my spiritual pressure defense, so the so-called temperature naturally has no effect."
"Are there only five of you?"
Bazz-B's expression changed, and he stomped on the air. A scorching heatwave instantly surged beneath his feet, spreading outwards.
His eyes widened, and he roared,
"What do you mean by that? Are you saying that even if all five of us team up, we might not be able to defeat you?!"
Bazz-B was unaware of the details of the battle between Yoriichi Tsugikuni and Haschwalth.
In his opinion, since Haschwalth was not dead, it meant that Yoriichi Tsugikuni's strength was not very strong.
At least, if their opponent had been Yamamoto Genryusai during the time they rushed over, Haschwalth would have long been dead.
And not just a little tired...
If one person couldn't win, then five people surely could.
He hadn't expected...
"How arrogant, Shinigami. Do you think you are Yamamoto Genryusai?"
Bazz-B hated being underestimated by others more than anything, because he still wanted to kill Yhwach to avenge the massacre of his kin years ago.
If he didn't have that strength, wouldn't it mean that his revenge plan would forever be an empty talk that could never be realized?
How could he possibly accept such a result?
And so.
"Burning Finger..."
Before he could finish speaking.
Haschwalth coughed twice, his face slightly pale, and he raised a hand to interrupt: "Stop, Bazz-B, things are not as you imagine."
"Don't display your abilities in front of him anymore."
"We've fallen into a trap. He never intended to finish this quickly from the start. He and His Majesty are the same kind of people."
"What?"
Not just Bazz-B, but the other few also froze slightly upon hearing this, their faces filled with astonishment.
The same kind of people... What did that mean?
Bazz-B immediately became vigilant, his gaze fixed tightly on Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Out of his unusual attitude towards Yhwach, he decisively reined in his abilities.
Haschwalth stood aside, explaining with a solemn expression:
"This battle, from the very beginning, was a trap set by the Shinigami to draw out us Quincy."
"His strength is far greater than Yamamoto Genryusai's. My Balance is utterly incapable of harming him."
"Bazz-B, your Heat is naturally the same."
"Every time you use an ability, the Shinigami will gain information... This information will become a sharp blade for them to attack the Wandenreich."
Haschwalth's gaze slowly shifted, carrying a hint of complexity and vigilance, finally settling on one spot as he slowly uttered a few words:
"Isn't that right, Yoriichi Tsugikuni..."
...
...
"Heh heh."
As Haschwalth stated his deduction, in the Soul Society, Mayuri Kurotsuchi stared intently at the screen, letting out a strange, eerie laugh.
"Interesting, truly interesting."
"They only just realized it now? It seems these Quincy of the Wandenreich aren't as smart as I imagined."
"So far, only the abilities called Sternritter are somewhat interesting."
"Bazz-B, the Heat, can actually restrain Captain-Commander Yamamoto..."
"Yhwach's preparations for attacking the Soul Society are truly thorough. I wonder if he's just boasting."
"It seems he couldn't even harm a single hair on Captain Tsugikuni..."
As Mayuri Kurotsuchi spoke, Kisuke Urahara shook his head and added,
"You can't say that. The power of the Sternritter 'Heat' is evident for all to see."
"A casual strike can completely obliterate a park."
"I remember Quincy also have a Vollständig form, and the higher the reishi concentration in a place, the better their state will be..."
"In such a situation, the power should be further enhanced."
"Exceeding Ryujin Jakka's Shikai maximum output range, 110 kilometers, should be no problem."
"Let's continue to observe."
Kisuke Urahara suddenly remembered something and turned his head slightly,
"By the way, Mayuri, what are your thoughts on the Sternritter ability that Quincy named Haschwalth possesses?"
"Is it Balance or Reversal?"
Mayuri Kurotsuchi was slightly surprised, not expecting Kisuke Urahara to consult him for his opinion.
Although this was just a routine request for everyone's thoughts,
Mayuri Kurotsuchi still couldn't help but feel a surge of delight in his heart, and a triumphant expression appeared on his face:
"Heh heh, do I even need to think about such a small question? I am absolutely certain that it is Balance."
"If it were Reversal, there shouldn't be so many preconditions when the two of them fought."
"Consider the suggestion I made earlier: try to extract their Sternritter and use it to create exclusive powers for Shinigami."
"Currently, it's unclear how Sternritter appear, but everything has its source. Perhaps..."
"Those ordinary Quincy in the Human World also possess this power; we just haven't discovered it yet."
As soon as these words were spoken, Mayuri Kurotsuchi's soaring ambition was clear for all to see.
Kisuke Urahara's expression changed, and he immediately rejected it; he had always disliked human experimentation.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi was not in a hurry; after all, this matter was not something Kisuke Urahara alone could decide.
If Yoriichi Tsugikuni could capture a Quincy alive and bring him back.
He had over eighty percent certainty of being able to prevent that Quincy from turning into bones.
He just needed to put both their soul and body into a state of suspended animation.
Even if he failed, it didn't matter. When had any of his experiments not achieved success on the basis of failure?
Take the Sleeping Project currently underway, for example; it had already failed six times in a row.
But even so, Mayuri Kurotsuchi inexplicably had a strong premonition that perhaps this seventh time would succeed.
Combined with Quincy technology, he would create a special existence that fused the powers of Shinigami, Hollow, and Quincy.
No one could predict what would happen when a Shinigami fused with the powers of Quincy and Hollow.
However, this was his dream.
He had to make it a reality!
...
Human World.
"Good."
Yoriichi Tsugikuni nodded gently, expressionless, "Unfortunately, you only just realized this now; it's too late."
"The one called Bazz-B..."
Yoriichi paused, looking in the corresponding direction,
"The specific values of the abilities you have displayed so far should have already been recorded by those monitoring this place."
"The next time you appear... I don't know if there will be a next time for you, but in any case, within a month, machines designed to counter your abilities will be created."
As soon as these words came out, Bazz-B instantly flew into a rage. This was unbelievable; he did not doubt the truth of what the Shinigami said.
Because even Haschwalth had said so.
Then it must be true.
But why him, of all people?
So unwilling!!
However, the situation did not change in the slightest with his regret.
Seeing that the exposure of his abilities was irreversible, Bazz-B suddenly felt an urge to give up.
He might as well destroy this city; at worst, it would be a lose-lose situation!
Haschwalth solemnly interrupted his actions:
"Calm down, Bazz-B, things haven't reached their worst point yet. We still have Vollständig."
Saying that, he urged everyone to quickly retreat, while he stayed behind to cover their escape.
Even if all their trump cards were exposed, they had to ensure His Majesty's safety.
Just then.
Cang Du stepped forward: "I'll do it."
This was a burly man with a scar at the corner of his mouth, his face resolute and stern. He hadn't spoken a single word since he appeared.
Cang Du, the Iron, possessed the Wandenreich's notoriously toughest body, with astonishing strength.
According to him, as long as Haschwalth didn't use Balance.
Only Yhwach could kill him with pure swordsmanship.
It was time to be loyal to His Majesty.
Haschwalth must not die before His Majesty awakens.
"Gabriel, you stay too."
Cang Du slightly turned his head, his gaze cold as he looked at Gabriel, his voice devoid of emotion:
"I need your help. Anyway, your ability isn't very useful, so it doesn't matter if it's exposed."
Gabriel's eye twitched slightly; these words were truly hurtful, but it was the truth.
He had a similar appearance to Szayelaporro, only his hair color was different.
Although filled with helplessness at the moment, he could only bite the bullet and slowly step forward.
Suddenly, he almost forgot someone, "Pot, you..."
Before he could finish.
"Have you decided?" Yoriichi Tsugikuni's calm voice slowly rang out.
To him, it didn't matter who stayed behind to try and stop him at this moment.
His mission was only one: to try and test the power of the Sternritter as much as possible, and to capture them alive.
Vollständig?
That was a new thing. He wondered how it compared to the Sternritter.
After speaking, he instantly vanished from his spot, reappearing behind Bazz-B the next moment, raising his hand and smacking him into a deep pit in the ground.
Haschwalth hadn't yet recovered, and seeing this, he raised his sword again.
But before he could act, Cang Du had already swung his claw forward, the rushing wind seemingly tearing the surroundings apart.
"Haschwalth, hurry and leave."
"For His Majesty, you cannot die."
Swish!
His claw missed, and in despair, Cang Du could only use his full strength.
Clang!
Like a bell ringing, the surrounding reishi instantly converged into a blue Quincy cross, transforming into a bell tower that stood tall in the city.
A pair of wings sprouted from Cang Du's back, and his spiritual pressure began to surge rapidly.
"Shinigami, remember my name, I am Cang Du of [Iron]."
"Let's see if your sword can cut through my body!"