Chapter 425

2-in-1 chapter:

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Yet even at such close range, Byakuya slipped past it as though he had foreseen the attack in advance.

Äs Nödt stomped his foot in anger.

“Damn it… is running away all you can do?!”

Hearing that, Kuchiki Byakuya almost felt like laughing.

Had these Quincy in the Wandenreich not fought anyone in all these years?

Such childish words—yet he could actually say them aloud.

In a way, that was a kind of talent too.

Suddenly, a voice rang out across all of Seireitei:

“Everyone in Seireitei!”

“I… ahem, I am Kaelith, Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13!”

“The Quincy have arrived. All non-combat personnel, follow the evacuation procedure from the previous drills and head to the nearest shelter!”

“As for the combat personnel…”

“The day has come to test the results of your training!”

“Show me what you’re capable of—let’s see how far you can go!”

Hearing that voice, Äs Nödt shivered instinctively.

Kaelith…

Over a hundred years ago, together with Yamamoto, that man had nearly stormed into the Wandenreich.

Though Jugram Haschwalth had blocked them, the two still managed to kill two Sternritter with ease.

Just recalling that day sent a chill down his spine.

That man who swung his long chain, reeling them in like fish… he was a demon!

Byakuya, on the other hand, lifted the corner of his lips when he heard the voice.

“My apologies, Quincy.”

“Since the Captain-Commander himself has spoken, I can no longer afford to waste time…”

He spread his hand, and his Zanpakutō dropped to the ground.

Countless enormous blades materialized around him.

“Bankai.”

“Senbonzakura Kageyoshi.”

A massive storm of pink petals turned into a rain of blades, howling toward Äs Nödt!

Seeing this, Äs Nödt’s eyes lit up.

Without hesitation, he pulled out his Quincy medallion and poured spiritual energy into it.

A terrifying suction force instantly shattered Byakuya’s Bankai, drawing the power into the medallion.

At the same time, wearing a Hollow mask, Azashiro Sōya—his true body still within the Technology Bureau—controlled a clone, mixing Hollow reiryoku into the process.

Just as Äs Nödt absorbed the Bankai and was about to smile, his eyes widened, bloodshot.

This Bankai… was poisoned!

The Hollow-tainted reiryoku wracked him with searing pain.

But perhaps the sheer pressure of Byakuya’s presence forced him into making the right choice at the critical moment.

He didn’t know why he couldn’t absorb Byakuya’s Bankai, even getting hurt by it, but surely his opponent was also stunned.

Having his Bankai suddenly vanish right after releasing it—anyone would be shocked.

And even if Byakuya recovered, without his Zanpakutō, a Shinigami wouldn’t have much to rely on for the moment.

Against mere Kidō, his Blut Vene would suffice…

…Huh?

In Äs Nödt’s stunned gaze, Byakuya, despite having lost his Zanpakutō, had somehow already appeared before him.

Despite the loss of his Bankai, there was no panic. His expression was as calm and indifferent as ever.

The cold-faced noble raised his fist and swung it straight into Äs Nödt’s face—

Crunch!!

With a loud bang, half of Äs Nödt’s face exploded into a mist of blood!

As Äs Nödt writhed in pain and disbelief, Byakuya said coolly:

“For an ordinary Shinigami, losing the power of their Zanpakutō would indeed cause a moment of panic.”

“But… for a Shinigami trained under Kaelith, that doesn’t happen.”

“Kaelith once said, when all the powers you can rely on fail, your body itself is the last weapon.”

At Byakuya’s words, darkness closed in over Äs Nödt’s vision.

Shinigami… damn barbaric savages!!

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In the First Division courtyard, Kaelith sat at a tea table.

Matsumoto Rangiku bent over at his side, preparing tea.

“Kaelith, try this—has my technique improved?”

Following the method she had learned from Sasakibe, Rangiku poured the tea, her eyes full of expectation.

Kaelith lifted the cup and tasted it.

Not bad—almost on par with Ryūjin Jakka’s own brewing skills.

This girl Rangiku might seem unreliable most of the time, but when she put her mind to something, she could be quite capable.

He was just about to comment when he suddenly sensed something and turned his gaze.

Flash!!

A figure appeared in the courtyard.

Long black hair, a black beard, a ragged black cloak, and a white Quincy uniform.

Exactly the same as the person Kaelith had seen in his vision when he first became a Transcendent.

Upon seeing the man, Rangiku’s pupils contracted.

Based on Bambietta’s descriptions, Seireitei had drawn up likenesses of many of the key figures in the Wandenreich.

And the man standing before them now was, without a doubt, the most powerful of them all—

The King of the Quincy, Yhwach!

Looking at the two before him, Yhwach raised the corners of his mouth.

“Long time no see, Kaelith.”

Hearing this, Kaelith narrowed his eyes and tilted his head.

Then he spoke:

“Who are you?”

“Eh?”

Rangiku froze.

How could the Captain not recognize the enemy’s leader?

Was this some kind of psychological tactic?

But Yhwach’s expression changed upon hearing those words.

“You don’t recognize me?”

At Kaelith’s words, Yhwach let out a low laugh.

“Six years ago, you crept about in secret to spy on me, and now you say you don’t know me?”

At this, Kaelith looked a little surprised.

“So Yhwach actually told his subordinates about something like that?”

“I am Yhwach, King of the Quincy!”

Yhwach’s gaze turned cold, and his spiritual pressure surged violently.

The terrifying aura shook the entire First Division barracks!

Rangiku frowned slightly.

Although she bore the title of vice-captain, her true strength had long since reached captain-class.

For her to feel this kind of pressure meant the man’s power was absolutely real.

If this really were only one of Yhwach’s subordinates, how terrifyingly strong must the Wandenreich be?

Though it was difficult to believe, as one of Kaelith’s most loyal followers, she immediately became vigilant, scanning the surroundings in case the real Yhwach appeared.

Amidst the crushing pressure, Kaelith rubbed his chin.

“Strange.”

“He clearly isn’t Yhwach, yet his spiritual pressure matches perfectly, and his voice and appearance are genuine. It’s neither Kido nor technological disguise.”

“Even his power has barely reached the level of a Transcendent.”

“Is this the power of Schrift as well?”

“If so, then I really must give you a round of applause.”

Hearing this, Yhwach’s face grew dark.

“I told you already—I am Yhwach!!”

As though to prove it, Yhwach wasted no more words. He spread his arms, summoning a massive spirit bow over two meters long.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Countless spirit arrows poured down like a torrential rain.

Each one carried the full might of a Sternritter’s attack!

Against a barrage that could easily annihilate even a captain, Kaelith didn’t even bother to rise.

A massive curtain of black shadow descended between him and Yhwach.

Every spirit arrow that flew toward him was swallowed up by the shadowy veil, vanishing without a trace.

But in the instant after the attack, Yhwach’s figure had already closed the distance, appearing right beside him.

“Kaelith!”

Rangiku cried out.

Even with her level of strength, she hadn’t seen when he had moved!

Clang!!!

As her words left her lips, the two had already clashed.

Yhwach brought down a reishi blade with crushing force.

The next moment, his expression changed.

Before his disbelieving eyes, Kaelith was still calmly seated, teacup in hand.

Black shadows had risen like a shield, effortlessly blocking the strike that should have been unstoppable.

On the shadowed curtain, vast circuits of blue spirit energy crisscrossed like a web.

He knew this ability all too well.

The Quincy’s signature power—Blut.

Kaelith… could actually use Quincy techniques?!

What’s more, he had extended the Blut outside his body, coating it onto an object. This was an extremely advanced technique—so difficult that even among the Sternritter, only a handful who specialized in Blut could perform it.

But he was a Shinigami. How could this be possible?!

In the instant of his distraction, Kaelith raised his head.

“Still not calling out the real one?”

“If Yhwach doesn’t come now, I’ll just start treating you as him.”

“After those last exchanges, you should understand by now—an artificially forced Transcendent is in a completely different world from a true Transcendent.”

Looking into Kaelith’s calm eyes, Yhwach fell silent.

Then a voice rang out:

“That’s enough, Lloyd. Stand down.”

At the sound of that voice, “Yhwach” showed a trace of fear.

That fear quickly turned into shame.

He leapt back, landing some distance away from Kaelith.

Before Kaelith and Rangiku’s eyes, his form changed.

The long messy black hair, the prominent nose, the thick beard—all of it disappeared.

In its place stood a bald man with no eyebrows, looking almost alien.

And from the shadows, another figure slowly emerged.

It was Yhwach.

Seeing this man, Kaelith set down his teacup.

Rangiku glanced secretly at her captain.

Kaelith’s gaze was calm, as though nothing had happened.

But she knew—when her captain’s eyes were this calm, it meant flames were already rising inside.

Normally, his eyes would always carry that warm smile she was familiar with.

Cloaked in black, Yhwach stepped into the courtyard.

“Kaelith… this is our first meeting in the World of the Living.”

“Compared to when I last sensed your presence, you’ve certainly grown much stronger.”

Without waiting for Kaelith to respond, he smiled toward his subordinate.

“This is my knight, Loyd Lloyd.”

“His ability allows him to transform into anyone whose power he connects with.”

“Not just appearance, but also presence, spiritual pressure fluctuations—even memories.”

“Before he came to see you, I granted him half of my power, so he could test your techniques and abilities.”

“Unfortunately, it seems half my strength wasn’t enough to force out your full power.”

At his words, Rangiku’s eyes widened.

The overwhelming might that could crush a captain-level opponent with ease—was only half of Yhwach’s real power?!

No wonder Kaelith had always kept such strict oversight of the Gotei 13’s training, never allowing any laxity.

Facing such an enemy, one could never be too cautious.

Under Yhwach’s gaze, Kaelith shook his head.

“Sorry, but if you can, don’t talk to me in that familiar tone. It’s really disgusting.”

“As for meeting—yes, this is the first time.”

“But it will also be the last.”

He slowly stood, tugging at the white haori on his shoulders.

Rangiku noticed at once—this wasn’t the new haori he normally wore.

This one was old, clearly worn, and its size didn’t quite match Kaelith’s build.

If not for the naturally loose cut of a haori, it might not have fit at all.

Even so, he had chosen to wear this haori to battle.

And even facing an opponent equal to him—or perhaps even stronger—he hadn’t taken it off.

Rangiku suddenly understood.

This haori must have been the relic of Captain-Commander Yamamoto.

By wearing his teacher’s relic, Kaelith was fulfilling his teacher’s wish—to protect Soul Society.

Her eyes welled with tears as she drew her Zanpakutō, ready to fight at his side.

Seeing Kaelith prepared for battle, Yhwach’s smile faded.

In truth, sending Loyd hadn’t been mere “testing.”

His real plan was to keep Kaelith’s attention fixed entirely on Loyd.

Once Kaelith went all out to defeat—or even kill—Loyd, Yhwach intended to suddenly withdraw Loyd’s power and strike at full strength, eliminating Kaelith in a single blow.

Unfortunately, the man who had inherited Yamamoto’s position was nothing like Yamamoto’s stubborn single-mindedness.

This one was far too sharp.

But that was fine.

Defeating Yamamoto’s successor head-on, in a fair fight, was the surest way to plunge Soul Society into despair.

In a flash, Yhwach appeared before Kaelith.

He extended his hand, forming a spirit blade, and brought it down in a fierce slash!

Facing the true Yhwach, Kaelith did not hesitate, driving his fist forward—

Triple Strike: Ichikotsu!!!!

BOOM!!!!!!

A terrifying storm of spiritual pressure ripped open the skies and tore through the heavens!!

Almost instantly, the entire Seireitei felt the shockwave of Kaelith’s power.

Sensing that Kaelith had joined the fight, nearly every Shinigami’s spirit rose in unison.

Kaelith had made his move.

Everything was going to be alright!

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