Meanwhile, elsewhere, within a mysterious black space.
A massive pure white palace stood beneath the night sky, radiating immense sacred energy.
Ice-like cold mirror surfaces wrapped every side of the structure. Magnificent beyond measure.
This was the Quincy base...
The Vandenreich!
Inside the imperial palace's main hall, seven figures of varying heights appeared suddenly like shadows.
Their bodies were wrapped entirely in pure white uniforms. Their faces pitch black.
The seven who invaded Yamamoto's duty room!
The leader reached out and pulled back his white robe, revealing his true face.
His black and white hair split left and right. An arrogant smile highlighted his yellow pupils.
Advance force captain, Luders Friegen.
Having successfully completed his mission and toyed with Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto—the so-called strongest Soul Reaper—his chest swelled with pride.
Just then, he spotted someone ahead. Covered in wounds, kneeling on one knee, head bowed.
The instant he recognized him, Luders laughed contemptuously.
He naturally looked down on this miserable failure. He stopped walking and sneered:
"Tch, if it isn't Ivan? Bowing your head to me so pathetically..."
"Looking at you, you rushed ahead trying to claim credit, didn't you? How disappointing. Your mission was so low-level..."
Hearing this, Ivan's expression froze. Then he snapped his head up.
He gritted his teeth, glaring at Luders furiously:
"Ridiculous! What right does someone like you have... to make me bow?!"
The instant he finished, Luders' smile vanished. He narrowed his eyes coldly:
"...What did you say? Do you understand... who you're speaking to?!"
Before Ivan could respond, a heavy, deep voice suddenly emerged.
"Enough."
Before the words even finished, an invisible blade appeared. Luders' right arm severed instantly!!
Splurt!!!
Blood sprayed. The severed arm fell!
"Hm...?"
Luders froze completely.
He didn't even register what happened. Not until the next moment, when heart-wrenching pain struck—
"AAAAAAAHHH!!!"
He screamed in agony, clutching his severed arm, collapsing to the ground in terror.
Then his entire body went rigid. He couldn't make a sound.
Because he'd noticed—beside him, a throne that appeared from nowhere.
And... the man seated upon it.
The heavy voice emerged from the man's mouth:
"Really now... how many times must I say this before you understand...?"
"Do not quarrel before me."
"I... dislike quarreling."
"Now then, let me hear... your report on what you've done for 'peace.'"
The man wore the same pure white uniform. A golden Quincy cross adorned his chest. Behind him—a massive dark red cloak.
He sat casually on the throne, watching them with a faint smile.
Seeing this, Luders' breathing grew faster and faster. He gasped heavily. Cold sweat poured like rain. The pain nearly made him lose consciousness.
But even so, he struggled to rise.
Just then, the man's voice came again:
"No need to force yourself, Luders."
"With such injuries, even sitting must be painful. So I specially permit you... to lie down while reporting."
Luders' body shook again. He looked up with difficulty, carefully:
"...Y-yes..."
But then the man spoke again with a light smile.
"However..."
"Since you don't need to sit, then... you won't need your legs either."
"?!!"
Luders' heart jumped violently. Like falling into an ice pit, he shuddered!
The next moment, enduring bone-piercing agony, he dropped to his knees.
Thud!
"I-I wouldn't dare!!"
"Before Your Majesty... how could Luders commit such disrespect as lying down to report?!"
Luders kept his head low, shouting through gritted teeth.
The invisible pressure made every nerve feel ready to explode.
Just facing this man on the throne—he'd already fallen into absolute terror and despair!!
"Heh... is that so? Then let's hear your report."
The man leaned back slightly, speaking slowly.
"...Yes!"
Luders answered quickly, then took a deep breath. Suppressing the pain, he began reporting everything that happened after entering the Seireitei.
This naturally included his entire conversation with Yamamoto.
After a moment, hearing all this, the man raised his chin slightly:
"You said... five days?"
"Y-yes...!"
Luders kept his head bowed respectfully: "This timeline allows both us and Soul Society adequate preparation for battle..."
"What you're describing... is the 'future,' isn't it?"
"...Hm?"
Luders looked up blankly, not understanding.
The next moment, the man raised his eyes slightly. He gazed at him calmly:
"Two days ago, when you went to investigate the boundary, you said this—"
"If things continue, in the near future, the balance between Soul Society and the World of the Living will completely collapse..."
"Luders Friegen. That's what you said, correct?"
"So now, before me—are you a prophet...?"
Luders froze completely. The suffocating feeling grew stronger. But he still didn't understand.
"Uh... uh... may I ask...?"
The man leaned forward slightly, calmly:
"Answer me. I'm asking you now—'Are you a prophet?'"
"N-no... no... of course not...!"
Luders answered carefully. But his pupils began slowly contracting. His body trembled uncontrollably.
Hearing this, the man crossed his hands, resting them on his knees. He raised his eyes slightly:
"If not, then why... when reporting to me, do you speak of the distant 'future'?"
"What I want to hear... is the 'present.'"
BOOM!!!!!
The instant he finished, a massive explosion erupted!!
Luders had no time to react. Even Ivan beside him had no time to react.
Luders Friegen's upper body—in that instant—exploded directly!!
Crimson blood splattered like spilled ink, instantly soaking Ivan's white uniform!!
Ivan's heart pounded heavily. He froze completely!
Completely... completely... didn't notice how it happened...
No spiritual particle traces. Luders... just exploded on his own...
But how could he explode by himself...?
So this... this was... His Majesty on the throne!!
Because he willed it... it happened!
This was indescribable... irresistible... supreme power!!!
Ivan dropped his head sharply. He felt suffocated. His body began trembling involuntarily.
Terror deep as death completely consumed him.
And all of this came from the man on the throne.
The Quincy progenitor. The Vandenreich's emperor—
Yhwach!
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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