The elegant man with long blonde hair sat quietly at his desk, handling official business for the legion.
He occasionally looked up out the window, a trace of anxiety flashing in his blue eyes.
As the personal guard to Yhwach, His Majesty the Emperor of the Wandenreich, Jugram Haschwalth held the highest rank in the Sternritter.
He was responsible for managing all major affairs of the entire empire while Yhwach slumbered.
Although he had no specific title, almost all Quincies considered Haschwalth the empire's supreme executive.
His orders were usually executed unconditionally.
Not long ago, driven by a rather ominous premonition, he had dispatched Quilge Opie, the martial arts instructor of the Sternritter, to the Soul Society to gather intelligence.
Although the man had not yet returned, the unease in Haschwalth's heart grew increasingly intense.
This was the first time he had experienced such a strong premonition since swapping abilities with Yhwach.
Despite having no specific source, Haschwalth guessed it might be related to the Soul Reapers.
In all likelihood, some unpredictable variable had occurred in the Soul Society.
Haschwalth lowered his gaze to the documents on his desk. A few names caught his eye, among which "Ishida" and "Kurosaki" were clearly visible.
These were a few Quincy branches that had left the empire's protection to survive in the World of the Living.
They would serve as a hidden force, multiplying and continuously growing stronger in the World of the Living.
If the final battle with the Soul Reapers failed in the future, the Quincy race would not perish because of it.
In addition, there were other Quincy families living in the World of the Living.
It was a necessary precaution.
As the current supreme executive of the Wandenreich, Haschwalth had to ensure the Quincies would not be completely exterminated by the Soul Reapers before Yhwach awoke.
"Let's hope Quilge can bring back some good news."
Haschwalth looked out at the unchanging scenery beyond the window and let out a long sigh.
"This is the [Black Flash] I unleashed. How is it?"
Upon sensing that terrifying Reiatsu that nearly swept through the entire Seireitei, Naraku Sora didn't say a word and immediately rushed to the Squad 1 barracks.
Having frequently brawled with Yamamoto, he couldn't be more familiar with the aura of this Reiatsu.
He originally thought Yamamoto had met with some mishap and hurried over in a panic to see if there was a chance to inherit the Gotei 13.
But he never expected that the old man was actually practicing [Black Flash].
What surprised Naraku Sora even more was that Yamamoto's compatibility with [Black Flash] was significantly better than Aizen's.
To think he achieved results so quickly.
As the strongest Soul Reaper in the Soul Society, although his upper limit of stamina had decreased slightly due to his age, both his physical strength and Reiatsu level were undoubtedly number one.
As for his stamina limit, that was only relative to Yamamoto himself.
If compared to anyone else, he could still leave them in the dust.
Strictly speaking, Yamamoto and normal Soul Reapers couldn't even be considered the same species.
"Just average."
"What? Average? What kind of nonsense are you spouting!"
Yamamoto was furious. He had poured one hundred and twenty percent of his energy into learning and practicing it, finally managing to execute it once, only for this rebellious disciple to give such an evaluation.
He immediately prepared to use this rebellious disciple as a sparring partner to improve his proficiency with [Black Flash].
However, just as the scorching Reiatsu was about to erupt like a volcano, Naraku Sora suddenly frowned and looked towards the west.
Over there, there seemed to be a disgusting scent.
Naraku Sora raised his hand to stop Yamamoto's childish antics, disappearing from his spot with a [Flash Step]. When he reappeared, he was already at the edge of the barracks.
He released his Reiatsu to sense his surroundings.
There didn't seem to be anything abnormal present.
Yamamoto followed him over, frowning. "What kind of crazy fit are you throwing now, boy?"
Naraku Sora turned his head and pointed at the lush forest ahead. "This area gives me a rather uncomfortable feeling, as if something is hiding there."
Yamamoto stared at him blankly.
He carefully inspected the forest, then observed Naraku Sora, before softening his voice.
"Speaking of which, you have indeed been running around the Seireitei lately, busy out of your mind. I grant you a one-month vacation. Get some good rest."
Naraku Sora cast a sidelong glance at the old man spouting nonsense. He didn't explain anything, merely staring calmly at the forest, his voice low.
"Stop hiding and come out."
"Your clumsy techniques can't even compare to our Urahara Pal. Trying to steal intelligence with such methods means you're underestimating us a bit too much."
Hearing these words, Quilge, who was hiding in the Schattenbereich, felt his heart skip a beat.
As early as when Naraku Sora used [Flash Step] to come over, he had an ominous premonition.
Sure enough, this seemingly young Soul Reaper actually possessed intuition far beyond ordinary people.
*He could actually detect me hiding in the Schattenbereich!*
The Schattenbereich was one of the Quincies' high-end combat techniques, capable of using shadows to transfer people or objects into another space. However, the time one could exist in this space was limited; once the time was up, they would be forcibly returned to the original space.
He originally thought he could easily obtain Soul Reaper intelligence relying on this method, but he never expected to fail so miserably.
Right now, running was probably out of the question.
*If I can take down that young Soul Reaper in the shortest time possible, perhaps I can use him to threaten Yamamoto in exchange for a chance to survive.*
*I have to transmit the intelligence back to the empire!*
Having made up his mind, Quilge fixed his gaze on the figure of the youth ahead, slowly withdrawing the shadow bit by bit.
Just at the moment his Reishi aura was about to be exposed.
He drew his sword!
Azure Reishi condensed on both sides of the sword's guard, forming the shape of a longbow. Several Reishi arrows formed instantly and shot out explosively!
Half blasted towards Yamamoto standing in the back, while the other half shot towards the closest target, Naraku Sora.
Light burst forth, and the sound of piercing the air was sharp and ear-piercing.
Boom, boom!
Explosions rang out with almost no interval. A terrifying wave of fire swept out, its shockwaves spreading.
Taking advantage of this gap, Quilge rushed out from his hiding place, activating [Hirenkyaku] to instantly close in on Naraku Sora within the smoke and dust.
Reishi condensed, and he slashed!
A strike bursting with all his power. He could only hope this young little guy wouldn't die instantly.
Quilge's eyes burned brightly, a confident expression appearing on his face.
As long as that monster named Yamamoto Shigekuni didn't attack immediately, he would have a chance to survive.
As the martial arts instructor of the Sternritter, his basic combat skills were practically the strongest.
*A mere ordinary Soul Reaper who doesn't even wear a white haori couldn't possibly...*
Before the smoke and dust from the explosion could dissipate, Quilge saw a large hand suddenly occupy his entire field of vision, pressing straight down.
Five strong, powerful fingers pressed against his frozen face, slamming him down without any room for argument.
Boom—
A massive, deafening explosion once again echoed through the back mountain. The agitated dust swept up into the sky, forming a giant curtain tens of meters high.
The ground let out an overwhelmed groan. Countless cracks rapidly spread and expanded outward with Quilge's head as the center, collapsing downward.
It was like an earthquake.
Uncontrollable agony swept through every inch of Quilge's flesh and blood, spreading deep into his nerves. It was as if he had gone completely numb, feeling as though his body no longer belonged to him.
"Clown, what the hell are you doing?!"
Naraku Sora looked down, revealing a friendly smile as he stared at the figure beneath his palm.
A white military uniform, a long, thin face, and a Reiatsu aura that completely didn't belong to a Soul Reaper.
After clearly seeing the sneak attacker's appearance, a look of sudden realization appeared on Naraku Sora's face.
It was clear now.
So it was a Quincy!
No wonder Yamamoto couldn't detect the other party's traces, no wonder he felt disgusted by the residual scent in the air, and no wonder it was a life-or-death situation the moment they met.
Although he didn't quite know the other party's name, he was probably hiding in the Schattenbereich to spy on that white-bearded old man, Yamamoto.
And the reason he could detect the Quincy's aura...
Was entirely due to the bonus of his innate Hollowfication buff.
As early as when he went out on a mission with Aizen, Naraku Sora had discovered the existence of aberrant monsters through their residual aura.
And the differentiation between the Quincy's Reishi aura and the surrounding environment allowed him to notice the anomaly.
Although he couldn't determine the exact location because of this, he could guess the general area.
In fact, until the other party attacked, Naraku Sora couldn't be sure if there was actually anyone hiding in the forest, which was why he spoke up to bluff them.
He just didn't expect this Quincy to be so impatient, jumping out on his own.
However, setting everything else aside, the tough texture of this tactile sensation was not the slightest bit weaker than a Menos Grande's Hierro.
Streaks of azure patterns surfaced on Quilge's skin, resisting the terrifying power constantly pouring in.
That strike just now had truly left him dazed.
Even if he were beaten to death, he would never have imagined that a random Soul Reaper who popped out looking like small fry could erupt with such terrifying strength.
*Could it be that the Soul Reapers of the Soul Society had already become this strong?*
At the thought of this possibility, Quilge felt an urge to tremble all over.
*Was the Wandenreich really going to wage war against such terrifying existences?*
Seemingly foreseeing some terrible consequence, the muscles on Quilge's arms suddenly bulged, and the Reishi in the surrounding environment frantically converged towards him.
The next moment, a massive azure pillar of light swallowed him, and the powerful recoil sent Naraku Sora flying backward.
A brilliant Quincy Zeichen appeared at the top of the pillar of light.
Amidst the glow, Quilge stood up from the deep pit. Countless Reishi threads wrapped around his body, forcibly stitching his broken bones together to restore his combat capability.
[Ransōtengai]!
Huge Reishi wings unfurled, and Reishi attire such as shoulder straps, bracers, and boots attached to his military uniform. His entire imposing manner instantly elevated by several tiers.
[Quincy: Vollständig]!
Quilge took off his shattered, twisted glasses and crushed them with one hand. He stared coldly at Naraku Sora ahead, a killing intent so thick it was almost tangible gushing forth.
Having failed to take down the opponent immediately, his chance of survival was completely lost.
Since that was the case, then in the final moments of his life, he would take down an enemy of the empire.
Reishi condensed on his long sword, blooming with endless radiance.
His legs bent slightly, and the ground immediately cracked. The recoil drove Quilge to erupt with a speed surpassing his limits, instantly appearing in front of Naraku Sora.
Scorching Reishi also gathered on the long sword.
This strike would surely sever everything!
Boom—
The clash of steel sparked countless embers. The violent impact formed an arc, expanding in all directions, instantly annihilating the dust and erasing the forest.
Even the ruins of the distant back mountain were leveled.
Quilge stared in astonishment at the silver-white blade blocking his front, unable to understand why a strike he was so certain of had actually been blocked by the opponent.
He had clearly even released his [Quincy: Vollständig].
Naraku Sora looked at the face close at hand and grinned.
[Second Secret Sword・Armor Piercing].
The gains from Umino Unpei were perfectly displayed at this moment.
Beneath the Shihakushō, the muscles on his legs surged like water, transmitting pure power to his waist, and then spreading all the way to the blade.
Sword pressure erupted!
The brilliant radiance snapped the long sword in Quilge's hand in half, shattered the Reishi wings of light blocking the front, and broke through the [Blut Vene], known as the Quincies' strongest defense.
Under that unbelievable gaze, a sound like tearing silk burst forth from his body.
Flesh and blood tore apart, and fresh blood sprayed out, instantly dyeing the heavily cracked earth red.
Quilge stumbled to the ground, his eyes filled with despair, staring blankly at the scorching figure that suddenly appeared before his eyes.
Like a rising, blazing sun!