"Alliance?"
Haschwalth's proposal immediately sparked murmurs and murmuring among the gathered quincy divisions.
However, the aura of His Majesty Yhwach still loomed over them, heavy and unquestionable. So unlike the previous outbursts, no one dared raise their voice too loudly.
Yhwach gave Haschwalth a subtle nod, signaling him to continue.
Haschwalth spoke with calm conviction. "Kyo Mazuru, the current ruler of Hueco Mundo, was once one of Aizen Sosuke's followers. After Aizen's defeat, he inherited Aizen's will and took control of Hueco Mundo. Over a year ago, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, led a full-scale expedition against him… and lost. The Soul Society's campaign against Hueco Mundo ended in failure."
He paused, letting the weight of that statement sink in.
"The Soul Society has remained on high alert ever since. They've intensified their drills and war exercises, clearly fearing another conflict. The scars of their defeat haven't faded—and neither has the animosity between them and Hueco Mundo."
"Sooner or later," Haschwalth continued, "there will be another war between them. Their hatred is deep, irreconcilable. And we, who also bear centuries of hatred for the shinigami, can become allies with Hueco Mundo."
He raised his hand and declared, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
If this had been the Hueco Mundo of old, Haschwalth would never have uttered the word "alliance". He would have spoken only of conquest. But times had changed. Too rapidly, in fact.
Under Aizen's transformation experiments, Hueco Mundo had evolved. No longer a land of mindless beasts, it was now home to powerful arrancars with unique abilities and intelligence. After Aizen's fall, Mazuru didn't allow that unity to collapse—instead, he solidified it. He gave Hueco Mundo something it never truly had before: a leader, and a purpose.
Hueco Mundo on its own might be manageable.
The arrancars alone might be tolerable.
But when both come together under a single king?
Even the mighty Wandenreich had to tread carefully.
As for Baraggan, the so-called "King of Hueco Mundo" before Aizen and Mazuru? Haschwalth never even considered him worth remembering.
Still, the word alliance left a sour taste in the mouths of many.
The hall buzzed again—not with anger or passion, but confusion and pride. Every quincy warrior in the Sternritters was someone who considered themselves superior. They had been forged through blood, centuries of persecution, and unyielding loyalty to His Majesty.
To them, proposing an alliance with Hueco Mundo felt like humiliation.
Conquering the arrancar? Acceptable.
Enslaving the Menos Grande and using them as cannon fodder? Logical.
But allying with hollows, those spiritual vermin who thrived on consuming souls?
It was unthinkable.
It was disgusting.
Even among those who had previously supported Haschwalth's pragmatic ideas, hesitation began to bloom.
The pride of the quincy was not so easily swallowed.
Seeing the storm he had stirred, Haschwalth fell silent.
Then, Yhwach finally opened his mouth.
"Hueco Mundo and Soul Society are now equal forces." he said slowly, his deep voice echoing through the hall. "If Hueco Mundo truly has that level of strength… then yes, they could be valuable allies."
The room grew quiet, a tense stillness replacing the murmuring.
"But before that," Yhwach continued, his voice turning icy, "there is one thing we must confirm."
He stood slowly, his shadow stretching across the floor like a spreading void.
"Whether or not Hueco Mundo is worthy of being our ally."
The finality in his voice made several Sternritters lower their eyes.
"Yes, they defeated the Gotei 13's strongest warriors. Yes, Yamamoto Shigekuni fell. But all of that—we only heard about it. We did not witness it ourselves."
Yhwach's crimson eyes glowed faintly.
"If they truly possess the power to stand as our equal, then we will acknowledge it. If not… then they will be conquered, and used as fodder like the rest."
The hall fell into absolute silence.
The discussion was over.
Yhwach's word was law.
He then turned to several of his most trusted warriors and began issuing orders.
The Wandenreich, the Invisible Empire that had remained dormant for centuries, finally stirred.
…
A Few Days Later – Inner Ring of Hueco Mundo.
A distortion split the air, a ripple forming like a crack in glass.
From within the shadowed swell of a shadow, five figures emerged in perfect unison. They stepped forth, followed by dozens of quincy wearing short white cloaks that billowed slightly in the dry, cold air.
"Is this Hueco Mundo?"
The first speaker was a lean man with a Latin complexion, one long curl of hair draped across his forehead. Dressed in a sleeveless white pullover, black boots, and loose pants, he examined the bleak desert landscape around him with disdain.
"It's really… desolate."
This was Askin Nakk Le Vaar, one of the elite Schutzstaffel—Yhwach's personal guards, and a deadly member of the Sternritters.
To his left, a large, muscular man with a short curly beard and a shining gold mask adjusted his bowtie. A thick belt bearing the symbol of the Sternritters hung at his waist.
"This kind of environment is really hard to like." he grumbled.
He was Mask De Masculine, another fearsome member of the Sternritters.
On Askin's right stood a sharply dressed man in a military uniform beneath his Quincy cloak, wearing round sunglasses and a crisp officer's cap.
His thin face twisted with arrogance as he sneered, "Let's not waste time. We're here for His Majesty's mission. Let's head straight to Las Noches and see if this so-called King of Hueco Mundo is worthy of standing beside us."
This was Quilge Opie, cold-blooded and zealous, known for his ruthlessness.
The three looked toward the horizon.
There, like a mirage rising from the eternal desert, stood the alabaster citadel of Las Noches—a fortress of bone and reishi, crowned in domes and shadows.
Two more Sternritters stood silently beside them, not voicing any opinions. They would act when necessary—but for now, they observed.
Without further delay, the quincy entourage, led by the five Sternritters, advanced across the desert using Hirenkyaku, their signature high-speed movement technique.
…
Las Noches – Interior.
In the highest chamber of the palace, Mazuru stood calmly, his black and crimson robes fluttering slightly as he gazed at the approaching force through a swirling mirror of reiryoku.
"So," he said with a faint smile, "The quincy have finally moved."
His fingers curled slowly around the hilt of the weapon at his side.
"Their first target… is Hueco Mundo?"
A chuckle escaped his lips.
"How interesting."
*****
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