Sui-Feng listened with some surprise. These Zero Division's members, who were so arrogant and looked down on everyone, showed extreme caution and fear at the mere mention of that name.
She spoke in a deep voice, "I don't understand what you're so afraid of. Yhwach is aiming for the Soul King. Is that senior's threat really more terrifying than the Soul King Palace being conquered?"
Unexpectedly, Ichibe'e actually agreed with her: "You are correct. That man's threat is indeed greater than the fall of the Soul King Palace."
This outrageous statement left everyone stunned.
'Such treasonous words actually came from the Zero Division, who were supposed to protect the Soul King?'
Ichibe'e said calmly, "His Majesty is not concerned about his own safety. Because the Soul King is the foundation of the Three Worlds. Even if Yhwach truly conquers the Soul King Palace and kills His Majesty, he will only become the new Soul King and continue the Soul King's mission."
Sui-Feng found this unbelievable. "You mean, as long as the Soul King exists, it doesn't matter who the Soul King is?"
"Correct." Ichibe'e nodded, then changed the subject. "Yhwach's threat exists within the Three Worlds. But Chiaki Setsuna's threat originates from outside."
"He wants to completely destroy the order of the Three Worlds. That destructive impact will extend into Hell, and that is what will truly shake the foundation of the Three Worlds!"
Sui-Feng still couldn't accept this. Just as she was about to continue speaking, the sky suddenly darkened.
Everyone looked up to see a large number of dark figures standing in the sky.
At the head of them was Yhwach himself.
"Is the Wandenreich... about to launch a full-scale offensive?" Kyoraku's expression changed slightly.
A flicker of surprise passed through Ichibe'e's eyes. "Yhwach, you once proclaimed you would take back the world in nine days. Now it's only the fifth day, yet you're so impatient to launch the general offensive. This isn't like you."
He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Are you afraid of something?"
"Afraid? Ridiculous." Yhwach's tone was indifferent. "Yamamoto Genryusai has died by my hand. Ryujin Jakka has also fallen silent. Who else is there in the Soul Society of today for me to fear?"
He raised his hand slightly, as if shooing away an insect. "I simply do not wish to give you remnants any time to catch your breath."
"Do you think I would be foolish enough to sit idly by and watch you find a way to counter my medallion for stealing Bankai?"
His gaze swept over Soul Society, then he gave the order: "Sternritter, hear me! Full-scale attack! Crush them!"
"Kill!"
With Yhwach's command, the Sternritter, who had been waiting eagerly, sprang into action like tigers out of a cage, transforming into destructive streaks of light that pounced on the waiting Gotei 13 and Zero Division.
There was no preamble. The battle entered its most intense phase instantly.
Heilig Pfeil clashed with Zanpakuto. Schrift abilities collided with Kido. Blood and Reishi sprayed everywhere.
Having lost the Captain-Commander and being unable to use their Bankai, the Gotei 13 quickly fell into a disadvantage.
Although they resisted desperately, the tide of battle continued to tilt towards the Wandenreich, becoming a one-sided rout.
"Damn it!" Ichigo, protected behind a few Shinigami, watched the brutal battle ahead. His fists were clenched tightly, blood dripping from his palms.
His Tensa Zangetsu had been severed in a previous battle. Without his Zanpakuto, despite his immense Reiryoku, he couldn't participate in a battle of this level.
This sense of powerlessness nearly consumed him.
But then, at the very moment when the Seireitei was on the verge of collapse and the battle was at its most intense—
Rumble rumble!
Soul Society trembled without warning. The buildings of the Seireitei groaned under the strain. Cracks split open in the ground.
Then, before everyone's horrified eyes, the sky above the Sokyoku Hill was torn apart as if by an invisible giant hand.
A spatial crack, large enough to swallow a mountain, appeared and continued to expand.
"That's the aura of Hell!"
"Someone is using the Sokyoku?"
Everyone was shocked by this sudden upheaval. The combatants on both sides involuntarily slowed their attacks, looking at the terrifying crack with uncertainty.
Ichibe'e was the first to react, shouting, "It's those rebels from Hueco Mundo! So that's it. Their previous humble attitude, their proposals for cooperation, all of it was just to lull us into complacency!"
"Their real goal was to activate the Sokyoku while we were too busy to attend to other matters, using the energy of its release to blast the Gates of Hell open as wide as possible!"
Just as Ichibe'e shouted [Gates of Hell], Yhwach also seemed to recall something, his brow suddenly furrowing tightly.
"I sensed something was happening in Hell earlier. Was it related to this moment?"
Although Yhwach didn't know what lay behind the Gates of Hell, he instinctively felt a wave of intense unease.
He quickly ordered, "Gremmy, destroy that crack! Stop the Gates of Hell from opening completely!"
"As you wish, Your Majesty!" Gremmy, possessing the Schrift ability [The Visionary], showed an excited smile.
Ichibe'e also shouted to the Zero Division's members, "Stop them! We must not allow the Gates of Hell to open completely! At any cost!"
"Huh?" Gremmy, who had been about to fly towards the sky above the Sokyoku Hill, was stunned.
He had initially thought this Shinigami was trying to stop him, but he was actually helping him?
A flicker of surprise also passed through Yhwach's eyes. He looked at Ichibe'e. "Hyosube Ichibe'e, you're actually siding with us? How peculiar."
Ichibe'e's face was extremely grave. He looked towards the Gates of Hell and said deliberately, "The Shinigami they are trying to release from Hell..."
"Is an existence ten times, a hundred times more terrifying than you, Yhwach! We should join forces and stop those rebels of Soul Society first."
The Gotei 13 erupted in an uproar, 'Was he really suggesting cooperating with the Wandenreich?'
"Rebels of Soul Society?" Kyoraku shouted sharply. "Hyosube Ichibe'e, as the leader of the Zero Division, is this how you guard the Soul King Palace?"
"Cooperating with the enemy that wants to conquer the Soul King Palace? Who is the real rebel of Soul Society here?"
Hearing that the Shinigami behind the Gates of Hell was stronger than himself had initially displeased Yhwach.
But now, seeing the Gotei 13 and the Zero Division turning against each other, he couldn't help but laugh.
"How interesting. You're going to fight amongst yourselves at a time like this? Hah, you Shinigami really are all thieves burdened with original sin."
Ichibe'e, however, had no time for his mockery. He looked seriously at Kyoraku. "Captain-Commander Kyoraku, do you truly intend to defy the will of the Soul King?"
"Is it the will of the Soul King, or the will of you, Hyosube Ichibe'e?" Kyoraku Shunsui said coldly. "I am growing more and more suspicious. What role do you Zero Division's members actually play in the Soul King Palace?"
"Are you the guards protecting the Soul King, or the jailers imprisoning the Soul King?"