For the Quincy, battling the Shinigami was something they had long yearned for.
Those Quincy who had survived the war nine hundred years ago had only managed to live on through desperate and forbidden means. Their hatred had never faded. On the contrary, it had fermented over centuries, turning into an obsession with revenge against the Shinigami who had destroyed their homeland.
As for the Quincy born during these nine hundred years within the Wandenreich, their resentment stemmed from something even more fundamental.
Why should the Shinigami rule the world?
Why should Quincy—who were born wielding such extraordinary power—be forced to live in the shadows?
Why should they endure exile and humiliation?
In their hearts, hatred toward the Shinigami had long since taken root.
If not for Jugram Haschwalth repeatedly insisting that the time had not yet come, they would have already launched a decisive war.
For centuries, they hid within this frozen palace beneath Seireitei, silently gathering intelligence about the Gotei 13.
And with every passing year, the hatred in their hearts only grew stronger.
"I've been wanting to fight Shinigami for a long time."
An arrogant voice rang out, sharp and impatient.
A young man with a crimson-red mohawk stepped forward, his movements explosive.
Using Hirenkyaku, he crossed the battlefield in an instant, closing the distance to Yamamoto Genryūsai as blazing heat erupted around him.
"I've heard your Zanpakutō is the oldest and strongest fire-type blade," he sneered.
"So let me see if that reputation is deserved!"
Bazz-B.
One of Haschwalth's closest comrades.
The bearer of the Schrift "H" — The Heat.
He thrust his palm forward.
Reishi gathered violently, ignited by the power of his Schrift, erupting into raging flames that surged toward Yamamoto.
Yamamoto's expression did not change.
He did not answer Bazz-B's taunt.
He simply raised Ryūjin Jakka.
"Burn."
The blade swept forward.
Flames compressed into a terrifying arc of destruction, colliding head-on with Bazz-B's fire.
BOOM!!
Bazz-B's flames were split apart instantly, dispersed by Ryūjin Jakka's overwhelming heat.
Only by activating Hirenkyaku at the last possible moment did Bazz-B manage to retreat, narrowly avoiding being incinerated.
That single exchange sent a clear signal.
The war had begun.
In the next instant, Sternritter across the palace moved simultaneously.
Reishi surged toward them, condensing into Heilig Bogen—spirit particle bows formed with flawless precision.
Countless Heilig Pfeil were loosed.
SHHHH!!
The air screamed as slender spirit arrows rained down, each one carrying lethal destructive power.
Kyōraku Shunsui, Jūshirō Ukitake, and the others had already prepared themselves.
Given the circumstances, such an outcome was inevitable.
What surprised them was only one thing—
The sheer number of Quincy present.
And their strength.
"…We might've rushed in a bit recklessly," Kyōraku muttered as he deflected arrows with a casual sweep of Katen Kyōkotsu.
"It would've been nice to investigate more first."
"It's too late for that now."
Unohana Retsu's calm voice cut in.
At some point, her Zanpakutō had already been drawn.
A terrifying spiritual pressure spread outward, heavy and suffocating.
The woman once known as the First Kenpachi had no intention of hiding herself anymore.
Before Shinigami, she could be gentle.
Before Quincy
She felt no such obligation.
Kyōraku glanced at her, visibly startled.
He had always known Unohana Retsu was strong.
But he had never seen her truly prepared to fight.
"…You're right," Kyōraku sighed.
"No use talking now."
"Our only option is to wipe them out."
As he spoke, Katen Kyōkotsu danced through the air, cutting down incoming arrows. His figure flashed as he appeared beside Jūshirō Ukitake.
"Jūshirō," he asked quietly,
"can you hold up today?"
Kyōraku wasn't worried about the others.
Yamamoto and Unohana were monsters from another era.
And Gosuke Shigure
He was the Kenpachi of this generation.
Only Ukitake's condition concerned him.
"I'm fine," Ukitake replied calmly.
"This level of fighting won't overwhelm me."
"And besides"
"We're not the only ones fighting."
Indeed.
At the heart of the battlefield, Yamamoto Genryūsai advanced like a walking inferno.
Ryūjin Jakka's flames surged outward, swallowing Quincy attacks whole.
Even in Shikai, its power eclipsed the Bankai of most captains.
This was not only the Zanpakutō's might—
It was Yamamoto himself.
Bazz-B clicked his tongue in frustration.
"Don't ignore me!"
He rushed forward again, flames erupting around him.
"Burner Finger One!"
A pillar of fire erupted from his outstretched finger, surging straight into Yamamoto's inferno.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions ripped through the palace.
Reishi structures ignited, collapsing as the battlefield was consumed by fire.
At the same time
Gosuke Shigure stepped forward.
Lightning crackled as he drew his Zanpakutō.
He released only a partial Shikai, deliberately restraining its full nature.
After his blade had been reforged by Ōetsu Nimaiya, its true form had changed.
But revealing that was unnecessary.
Thunder coiled around the blade, crawling along the ground like living serpents.
As Gosuke moved, lightning followed.
A net of thunder expanded outward—
Blanketing the battlefield.
His gaze locked onto Jugram Haschwalth.
The storm advanced.
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