Soi Fon withdrew her stinger, panting heavily.
She glanced down at her left hand.
The knuckles of her five fingers were swollen and red, and the webbing between her thumb and index finger was torn slightly by the recoil, blood seeping out.
But ultimately, she had won.
Hasumi Ren walked over and took her hand.
Soi Fon froze for a moment. Before she could pull her hand back, the pale green glow of healing Kido lit up from Hasumi Ren's palm.
The swelling on her knuckles subsided at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the wound on her hand slowly closed.
Soi Fon glanced at the Zanpakuto in Hasumi Ren's hand, which was still in its Shikai state.
"How did things end so quickly on your side?"
"I one-shot him. Can't help it when you're too strong."
The corners of Soi Fon's mouth twitched.
"Such an arrogant show-off."
Hasumi Ren shrugged.
He turned his head, his gaze sweeping over both sides of the alleyway.
The corpses of the two Sternritter members lay on the ground.
A massive amount of fine points of light drifted from their bodies, surging toward Hasumi Ren.
System prompts refreshed before his eyes.
[SYSTEM: Obtained Spiritual Power Fragment Cluster x2, Spiritual Pressure EXP +3000]
[SYSTEM: Obtained Schrift Fragment x2, Schrift Awakening Level +10%]
[SYSTEM: Schrift A - The Almighty (Consume), Awakening Level: 15%]
Hasumi Ren looked down at his palm.
With the increase in the Schrift's awakening level, Hasumi Ren felt something extra appear in his perception.
He closed his eyes, and his perception extended outward following the power of The Almighty's 'Consume'.
There were many newly dead Quincies on the surrounding battlefield. Hasumi Ren could faintly sense that their souls were dissipating.
However, unlike souls in the Soul Society that turned into Reishi and dissipated into the atmosphere, they converged into an even more massive energy. It was as if they were drawn by something, congregating in a single direction.
Hasumi Ren narrowed his eyes slightly and attempted to channel the Schrift.
The power of Consume surged from his body like an invisible hand, intercepting the two streams of energy returning in mid-air.
The energy struggled, refusing to break away from its original trajectory.
Hasumi Ren increased his output, forcefully tearing off a small chunk.
[SYSTEM: Obtained High-Level Spiritual Power Fragment x5, Spiritual Pressure EXP +500]
'I actually... intercepted it.'
He looked down at his hand. The intercepted energy had turned into system fragments and was absorbed into his body.
Looking out at the battlefield again, Hasumi Ren's eyes shone brightly.
The surrounding Stealth Force members had also wrapped up their respective battles.
Some were bandaging wounds; some were doing a headcount.
Hasumi Ren walked over and used healing Kido to treat the wounded.
At that moment, a voice sounded in the ears of Hasumi Ren and Soi Fon.
It was Hikifune Kirio.
"Enemy situation report. Sensory barriers have been set up between all defensive lines, and the density exceeds expectations."
"Captain Hasumi, Captain Soi Fon, please be advised: the infiltration has been discovered. Switch to frontal engagement immediately."
"The patrol density and distribution of defensive lines in the outer districts of the city have been mapped. The data is being synchronized and transmitted back. By order of the Head Captain, the Second Division's mission is changed. Focus on gathering enemy intelligence and avoid combat."
"Captain Hasumi, please hold your position and wait to rendezvous with the frontal assault forces."
Hasumi Ren and Soi Fon exchanged a glance. He then crouched down and took a Medallion from the bodies of both As Nodt and Cang Du.
He called over a squad member and handed over the two Medallions.
"Send these back to the rear and give them to Captain Hikifune. They might be useful."
The squad member took the Medallions, turned, and disappeared at the end of the alley.
Hasumi Ren raised his hand and activated Tenteikura.
A communication network constructed of spiritual pressure expanded in the air. After locating the spiritual pressures of the captains, his voice transmitted directly to their ears.
"Attention all captains. The enemy has set up dense Reishi sensory barriers on the perimeter. Any infiltration will highly likely be discovered."
"The distribution of their defensive lines and patrol density have been mapped. I recommend that all units advance directly according to the frontal assault plan."
"Be careful when encountering official members of the Sternritter. The abilities of certain individuals are quite troublesome. We have captured two Medallions and are sending them back to the Twelfth Division."
Having transmitted the information, Hasumi Ren looked at Soi Fon.
"The main force is about to push in, and the Second Division's mission has changed. The Head Captain ordered the Second Division to avoid the front lines and maneuver to the rear to gather intelligence. I'll stay here and wait for the assault forces."
Soi Fon nodded.
"Be careful."
"You too."
Yamamoto Shigekuni stood before the entrance to the Shadow Realm.
His aged hands gripped the hilt of Ryujin Jakka.
The spiritual pressure that leaked just from him gripping the sword subjected the squad members within a radius of dozens of paces to immense pressure.
"Move out."
His voice wasn't loud, but every word weighed heavily on the hearts of everyone present.
The squad members of the Eleventh Division drew their swords in unison and charged into the portal closely behind the Head Captain.
Kyoraku Shunsui and Shiba Isshin also led their respective squads, following closely behind.
The flanking force led by Kyoraku Shunsui headed toward the left wing, while Shiba Isshin, returning from his examination at the Twelfth Division, led his squad to cut into the right wing.
The ultimate target was the tallest castle in the center, Silbern.
The bandages on Shiba Isshin's right shoulder hadn't been removed yet, but the hand holding his Zanpakuto didn't tremble in the slightest.
Kyoraku looked at Shiba Isshin.
"How did the checkup at the Twelfth Division go? Any clues about your Bankai?"
"The stolen Bankai hasn't been recovered yet."
Shiba Isshin told Kyoraku.
"But Shikai is enough to deal with them."
Kyoraku pulled down his straw hat.
"That's good."
Soon, the forces arrived, and Hasumi Ren regrouped, taking the vanguard of the Eleventh Division to charge in side by side with Yamamoto Shigekuni.
After regrouping with Hasumi Ren, the forces split into three paths and pushed forward.
By the time they reached the perimeter of Silbern, the frontal forces of the Gotei 13 had crushed the first line of Quincy defense.
The Eleventh Division advanced with irresistible force. The squad members charged upward practically stepping on showers of Quincy Reishi arrows.
In the rear, the Fourth Division's temporary aid station had been set up. Wounded individuals were continuously being transported back by members of the Fifth and Third Divisions.
Unohana stood in the center of the aid station. Healing spiritual pressure flowed between her fingers as she led the Fourth Division in treating the wounded.
Hikifune Kirio remained in the rear to maintain the stability of the portal.
Inner City, outside Silbern.
When the frontal forces breached the outer defensive line, the core members of the Sternritter were already waiting for them.
Hasumi Ren led the Eleventh Division charging straight in, coming face to face with three members of the Sternritter.
The one leading was burly, with a thick beard connecting to his sideburns. His eyebrow-less eyes stared intently at Hasumi Ren.
Driscoll Berci, Schrift O, The Overkill. Every time he killed an enemy, his own strength would increase.
He had already killed numerous Soul Reapers during the ambush on the outskirts of the Seireitei. At this moment, his spiritual pressure surged violently; he was more than a measure stronger than when the war began.
To his left was Jerome Guizbatt, Schrift R, The Roar.
Jerome's physique was a size larger than even Driscoll's. A massive maw split his beast-like face, and a low growl rolled in his throat.
His Schrift allowed him to emit a shockwave powerful enough to shatter internal organs while in his transformed state.
To Driscoll's right was BG9, Schrift K.
This person stood out completely between the two, because he wasn't human, but a robot wrapped in a cloak. A cold red light flashed beneath the visor on his face.
He was the only mechanical lifeform in the Sternritter, and who created him was a mystery.
"Three."
Hasumi Ren drew his sword.
Before he could say his next sentence, the air around him suddenly turned boiling hot.
Yamamoto Shigekuni took a step forward.
"All things in the universe, turn to ashes, Ryujin Jakka."
Flames ignited along the blade of Ryujin Jakka.
Just the heat of the spiritual pressure radiating from the blade alone caused the stone slabs within dozens of paces to start boiling.
Before the smile on Driscoll's face could fade, Yamamoto's blade had arrived.
A single slash, striking diagonally from the left waist to the right shoulder.
Flames exploded along the trajectory of the cut, instantly igniting Driscoll's massive frame.
The final expression on that bearded face froze in an unbelievable stupor.
He didn't even have time to react.
His charred skeletal remains crashed onto the stone floor, shattering into several pieces.
Jerome's roar exploded from his throat.
He threw his head back and howled, activating Schrift R. His body rapidly expanded amidst the roar, tearing his combat uniform as a layer of thick, stiff black bristles covered his entire body.
He transformed into a giant ape, swinging his massive fists to smash at Yamamoto.
Yamamoto side-stepped, swinging Ryujin Jakka upward in a decapitating slash.
The giant ape's body charged forward two more steps on momentum before crashing heavily onto the ground, turning into a pile of ashes.
The remaining BG9 took half a step back.
The red light in its visor flashed continuously, running through all combat simulations within two seconds.
Its data module produced a conclusion in those two seconds.
The combat power of the elderly Soul Reaper before it far exceeded the upper limits of conventional captain-level strength.
The probability of victory in a frontal confrontation was zero. Immediate retreat recommended.
It followed the system's advice, turning and running immediately.
Just as the thrusters on the soles of its feet spat out the first trail of Reishi flames, Hasumi Ren had already landed in front of it.
With a horizontal slash, his blade clashed with the robot's left arm.
The outer shell of BG9's left arm was a solid block of high-density alloy, hard enough to withstand a frontal slash from an ordinary Zanpakuto.
Hasumi Ren's blade cut a third of the way in before wedging into the tough alloy.
"Analysis complete. Spiritual pressure output is approximately mid-tier captain level. Threat level downgraded."
BG9 raised its right arm, a gun barrel opening in its palm.
A Reishi cannon fired at point-blank range, a dark red beam shooting straight for Hasumi Ren's chest.
Hasumi Ren dodged sideways. BG9 continued to fire, switching the right arm cannon to rapid-fire mode, sweeping a dense barrage of Reishi bullets at Hasumi Ren.
Simultaneously, the thrusters on its legs reversed, accelerating its retreat.
Hasumi Ren slipped sideways through the gaps in the barrage.
His Shunpo left several afterimages amidst the rain of Reishi bullets. Every afterimage was pierced by bullets, but his true body had already circled to BG9's flank.
Swinging his Zanpakuto vertically, the robot raised its left arm to block.
The alloy shell withstood the blade once more.
But this time, Hasumi Ren applied more force to his right arm, focusing his spiritual pressure on the edge of the blade, forcefully cracking the alloy shell from the wrist all the way up to the elbow.
The red light in BG9's visor flashed wildly, and its left arm thruster uncontrollably spat out a flurry of erratic Reishi sparks.
The next moment, both of its shoulders opened simultaneously, deploying two rows of micro-missiles from the shoulder blades.
Several missiles, trailing pale gold exhausts, shot toward Hasumi Ren from different angles.
Hasumi Ren didn't dodge. Raising his hand, he fired a barrage of Sokatsui to intercept them.
The incantation-less burst of fire shot out from his palm, blowing away the cluster of missiles head-on. The remaining energy crashed into the armor on BG9's chest.
The shockwave from the explosion blew Hasumi Ren back, but the next moment, he stabilized himself in mid-air and charged up once again.
A section of BG9's surface armor was caved in, and fragments of circuit boards flew out from the cracks.
Its spiritual pressure output plummeted sharply.
Both leg thrusters engaged simultaneously, propelling its entire body backward.
But Hasumi Ren didn't let it get far.
Several golden beams of light fell from the sky—Bakudo #62: Hyapporankan.
The light rods crossed and locked down the robot's legs and right arm, pinning it in place.
BG9 thrashed its left arm wildly, trying to smash the restraints.
The light rods cracked with fine fissures under its alloy fist.
Hasumi Ren was already standing behind it.
Gripping his sword with both hands, he drove the blade from behind at a downward angle into the robot's neck joint.
The blade bit into the gap, and spiritual pressure exploded from the point of impact, burning inward layer by layer along the ribbon cables of the circuit boards.
The red light in its visor flickered frantically. The data module was still executing analysis until the very last second, but it was powerless to turn the tide.
BG9 stumbled forward two steps. Wires were exposed on its torso, crackling with Reishi sparks.
A plume of black smoke rose from its thrusters. The joints in its legs locked up, and its entire body crashed heavily into the ruins, remaining motionless.
Hasumi Ren sheathed his sword.
He turned around, just in time to see Yamamoto Shigekuni withdrawing Ryujin Jakka.
At Yamamoto's feet lay two piles of scorched ashes.
From drawing his blade to finishing both enemies, only a few breaths had passed.
Hasumi Ren glanced at the spot where he had just fought BG9, and then at Yamamoto's side.
It took him quite some effort to defeat one, yet the old man dispatched his with a single strike each. It was somewhat terrifying.
System prompts refreshed before his eyes.
[SYSTEM: Obtained Spiritual Power Fragment Cluster x3, Spiritual Pressure EXP +4500]
[SYSTEM: Obtained Schrift Fragment x3, Schrift Awakening Level +15%]
Hasumi Ren activated the Consume ability once more, intercepting a portion of spiritual pressure from the air.
[SYSTEM: Obtained High-Level Spiritual Power Fragment x15, Spiritual Pressure EXP +1500]
[SYSTEM: Spiritual Pressure: 3rd Class (EXP: 13340/50000)]
[SYSTEM: Schrift A - The Almighty (Consume), Awakening Level: 30%]
Hasumi Ren sheathed his sword.
Meanwhile, the flanking forces were also advancing.
Shiba Isshin's flanking force pushed to the border of the inner city at the exact same time.
Following behind Shiba Isshin, the squad members of the Tenth Division saw with their own eyes their captain smash through the Quincies' reinforced defensive wall with a single Getsuga Tensho.
The moment that crimson, crescent-shaped slash struck the Reishi barrier, it erupted in a ring of fiery shockwaves, completely destroying the entire defensive node.
Kyoraku, having dispatched several Quincies in succession on the left-wing defense line, was sheathing his sword when he saw the trajectory of that flame cutting through the sky.
"This guy from the Shiba clan... he really hid his strength deeply in the past."
Silbern, the high tower in the inner city.
Haschwalth stood at the top of the tower, facing several Reishi projections that displayed the real-time changes of the front lines.
Several official members of the Sternritter had already been confirmed killed in action. The spiritual pressures of As Nodt and Cang Du had vanished, and the spiritual pressures of Driscoll, Jerome, and BG9 had vanished at the same time.
The number of Quincy casualties continued to climb.
And the man he had been watching all along, Yamamoto Shigekuni, had also made his move.
Haschwalth pressed his communicator.
"The Soul Reapers are refraining from using Bankai, so the Medallions are currently yielding limited results. But if anyone is pushed to a desperate situation where they have no choice but to use Bankai, seize it immediately."
"All subordinate commanders, contract your defensive lines. Do not engage Yamamoto Shigekuni head-on. Focus on a coordinated attack against those few captains."
Haschwalth cut off the communication.
A large number of Quincies were dying on the battlefield. Their power would flow deeper into the heart of the palace, behind those tightly shut doors.
A high death toll was not entirely a bad thing.
The return of soul power would accelerate Yhwach's awakening.
'Lord Yhwach, the Soul Reapers' main force is far stronger than expected. They might awaken you earlier than estimated.'
"Quilge Opie, Lille Barro, Pernida Parnkgjas, Gerard Valkyrie."
Haschwalth called out four names.
Four individuals stepped out from the shadows of the war room.
Lille Barro carried a massive sniper rifle on his shoulder.
Pernida was wrapped in a large white cloak, revealing only two bulbous eyes.
Gerard wore a confident smile, holding a short sword and a buckler.
Quilge adjusted his sunglasses. As a master of all Quincy techniques, he was one of the first to develop and perfect the Quincy Vollstandig.
"Is it already our turn to take the stage?"
Haschwalth nodded slightly.
"The few of you have successfully mastered the Quincy Vollstandig. Go to the front lines and provide support."
"Do your utmost to force out those Soul Reapers' Bankai, and then steal them."