Kazuma looked at Jugram Haschwalth with a grave expression and a strong fighting spirit welling up in his chest.
As Yhwach's personal guard, Haschwalth's strength was undoubtedly top-tier.
He earned his position not just through absolute loyalty, but through unfathomable power.
'In the future Thousand-Year Blood War arc, Haschwalth would single-handedly infiltrate the First Division and confront Shunsui Kyōraku. His strength is undeniable,' Kazuma thought, gripping his Zanpakutō.
'He possesses the Schrift B—The Balance. It allows him to manipulate fortune and misfortune. He carries a Reishi sword and shield, a rarity among the Sternritter.'
Kazuma recalled the mechanics of the ability.
'His sword inflicts misfortune. If that fails, he absorbs the enemy's good fortune. Any damage dealt to him is absorbed by his Freund Schild—the Shield of the Scapegoat—and reflected back at the attacker.'
'The simplest, most brutal way to defeat him is to overwhelm him with absolute power. He can defend? Fine. I just need to use a force that shatters his defensive limits.'
Haschwalth watched Kazuma charge and fired several Heilig Pfeil from his blade.
'This Shinigami is dangerous. I will pin him down so he cannot join Yamamoto Genryūsai siege against His Majesty. A guard must fulfill his duty!'
Facing the incoming Heilig Pfeil, Kazuma dodged them with a burst of Shunpo.
He pressed forward, closing the distance.
'How troublesome. This Shinigami isn't just using Shunpo. His movement speed exceeds our Hirenkyaku.'
Watching Kazuma draw closer, Haschwalth abandoned his Heilig Pfeil and raised his Reishi sword.
Clang!
The sound of clashing blades rang out.
Kazuma instantly felt the activation of 'The Balance'.
The kinetic force of his own slash was reflected back into his arms, the massive recoil nearly knocking his Zanpakutō from his grasp.
'If that's the case, I'll avoid his sword and shield entirely and cut his flesh directly,' Kazuma thought, continuing the assault.
Kazuma and Haschwalth clashed, their powers colliding with thunderous shockwaves.
After several brutal exchanges, Kazuma found an opening and slashed at Haschwalth's flank.
The expected gush of blood did not appear.
Instead, a glowing net of blue veins materialized across Haschwalth's skin, blocking the steel like a solid shield.
"Blut Vene? How annoying," Kazuma frowned, stepping back and raising his blade.
Haschwalth looked at Kazuma in surprise.
He didn't expect a Shinigami to recognize Blut Vene on sight.
The other Shinigami he had slaughtered possessed only a superficial understanding of the Quincy, completely ignorant of their advanced techniques.
"It seems you are familiar with our arts. I've underestimated you," Haschwalth's expression turned grave.
A confident smile touched the corner of Kazuma's mouth.
"I know quite a few of your secrets. But so what if you have Blut Vene? I can still cut you down."
Kazuma raised his sword and charged.
Not to be outdone, Haschwalth brandished his blade, engaging Kazuma in another fierce exchange.
Haschwalth's mind filled with doubt.
'Why is this Shinigami so knowledgeable about us? Did someone leak our intelligence? If the Gotei 13 Captains possess this information, we lose a crucial trump card.'
Kazuma froze, a sudden realization hitting him.
'Yamamoto and the other Captains don't know about Blut Arterie and Blut Vene. If they fight blindly, they could be in grave danger.' Kazuma raised two of his fingers, preparing to execute an incantationless Tenteikūra to broadcast the intelligence.
Seeing the familiar Kidō hand seal, Haschwalth's expression shifted.
He realized Kazuma was about to broadcast their secrets.
He had to stop him!
Haschwalth swung his sword, unleashing a massive Heilig Pfeil.
The brilliant arrow tore across the battlefield at an astonishing rate, aimed squarely at Kazuma to interrupt the spell.
Haschwalth tensed. If the Gotei 13 learned of the Blut techniques, it would alter the course of the war.
As the Heilig Pfeil rapidly approached, Kazuma didn't flinch.
"Bakudō Eighty-One: Dankū."
While maintaining the Tenteikūra seal with one hand, he cast the barrier with the other.
A towering, transparent wall erupted from the earth, and the Heilig Pfeil crashed against it.
Dust and smoke billowed.
The barrier blocked the attack, remaining perfectly intact without a single crack.
The Tenteikūra broadcast connected.
"Captain-Commander! Batsu'unsai! And all other Captains! I have engaged Jugram Haschwalth and confirmed the Quincy possess special Reishi techniques called Blut Vene and Blut Arterie. They inject Reishi directly into their blood vessels for massive defensive and offensive enhancements. When active, branch-like patterns appear on their skin—red for Arterie, blue for Vene. They cannot use both simultaneously. If your attacks exceed their defensive threshold, you can shatter their Blut. Do not hold back!"
Haschwalth's pupils contracted.
'What? He used incantationless casting for a Bakudō above number eighty while simultaneously maintaining Tenteikūra? And my full-power Heilig Pfeil didn't even scratch his Dankū.'
"Satou Kazuma. It seems I have underestimated you." Haschwalth cast aside his contempt, finally addressing him by name.
"I have no choice but to go all out."
...
Upon receiving Kazuma's broadcast, Yamamoto, Batsu'unsai, and the other Captains adjusted their tactics.
The original Gotei 13 were no small fry, armed with this crucial intelligence, their efficiency multiplied.
...
"Haschwalth, wipe that shocked look off your face. The warm-up is over.... prepare to die," Kazuma said.
His Spiritual Pressure surged, cracking the pavement beneath his feet as he resumed the assault.
'He hasn't even released his Zanpakutō, and he is this strong?' Haschwalth braced himself.
Kazuma's Reiatsu had become suffocating, possessing the same oppressive weight as His Majesty's.
'Damn it. Why did we have no intelligence on a Shinigami this powerful? The surveillance division has failed us.' Haschwalth had no time to ponder as Kazuma closed the gap.
"Die, Haschwalth!"