Outside the Seireitei...
Endless Quincies marched through the gate connecting the worlds, gathering outside the four great gates guarding the Seireitei.
At their head stood a man in a black windbreaker—the supreme ruler of the Quincy Empire of Light, the great emperor Yhwach!
"Your Majesty, all is proceeding according to plan,"
a handsome young man at Yhwach's side reported respectfully, bowing slightly.
"Once we breach the four gates, we'll begin mapping the internal structure of the Seireitei..."
"Good. Remember your mission," Yhwach said coldly. "Everything you possess will become the foundation for my ascension to the highest throne!"
With a nod from their sovereign, the gathered Quincies—each clad in their pristine white battle attire—knelt in unison.
"At Your Majesty's command!"
And then, in the very next moment, a storm of spirit particle arrows rained down upon the gates of the Soul Society!
1st Division Headquarters, Seireitei
"Reporting in! Enemy forces have appeared at the White Gate!"
"Reporting! The enemy has also breached the Blue Stream Gate, Kuroro Gate, and Vermilion Ring Gate! Our stationed troops have suffered heavy casualties!"
"Reporting! The enemy identifies themselves as the subjects of the 'Empire of Light'! They wield spiritual particle bows!"
"Captain! Their identity has been confirmed—they're Quincies!"
One after another, the Shinigami couriers rushed through the First Division barracks, relaying critical reports to Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni and the gathered captains.
Yamamoto struck his zanpakutō into the ground like a cane, his expression grim.
"Enough. We cannot allow them to rampage any longer."
The entire First Division fell silent at his words.
This was not the Yamamoto who, a thousand years later, would remain seated in the barracks as a symbol of strength. No—this Yamamoto was fierce, brash, and more than willing to take the offensive.
And his fellow captains shared his sentiment. In an instant, all squads began preparing for full mobilization.
As Yhwach himself once said: "The Soul Society of the past was not a band of guardians... but an army of killers in the name of protection."
"Everyone—follow me! All-out war has begun!"
Yamamoto's spiritual pressure ignited like a wildfire. In his hand, Ryūjin Jakka crackled hungrily—its flames thirsting for Quincy blood.
At once, the entirety of the First Division drew their zanpakutōs, charging into battle behind their Commander. Their spiritual pressure surged like a raging inferno across the battlefield...
Akawa Gate—Now in Ruins
With the relentless advance of the Quincy army, the Akawa Gate had become nothing more than rubble.
From its shattered remnants, wave after wave of Quincy troops surged forward.
Even though Araki had warned Yamamoto months in advance—and the Commander had deployed reinforcements from the 13 Divisions—the defense was crushed beneath the sheer volume of spirit arrows. Official source is novel⸺fire.net
The sky-darkening volley fell like a deadly harvest, reaping the lives of the valiant Gotei shinigamis.
Bravery meant nothing against endless, merciless fire.
"Weak... far too weak..."
"These so-called Soul Reapers are nothing more than moving targets for us Quincies!"
"I don't know what His Majesty is even worried about. As if we, the proud Quincy, could be defeated by these fools? Don't make me laugh..."
"Frankly, I'd rather be in Hueco Mundo right now—at least hunting Hollows is a challenge!"
Among the advancing forces, a member of the Sternritter stood with a smirk, unleashing arrow after arrow into the fleeing ranks of Shinigami, each blast a deadly Heilig Pfeil.
The battle had only just begun... but for the Soul Society, the nightmare had already arrived.
Every arrow shot by this Sternritter (星十字騎士団, Sternritter) member claimed the life of a Gotei 13 shinigami—not a single shot missed. The Quincy's overwhelming firepower had made him arrogant, causing him to forget the solemn words His Majesty Yhwach had spoken before the invasion began.
"Retreat! Everyone retreat! The enemy's firepower is overwhelming! We need to regroup and rethink our strategy!"
The Shinigami stationed at Zhuwa Gate were caught in a relentless barrage of reishi arrows. Their formation was shattered. Many were wounded, and their spiritual pressure was nearly depleted. Survival now depended on a tactical retreat.
A Quincy of the Sternritter pulled back his spiritual bow. With a flick of reishi, an arrow shot forth like lightning.
But it didn't pierce the heart of a fleeing Shinigami. Instead, it tore through the knee of a shinigami running full-speed—shattering bone and hope.
The shinigami screamed and collapsed instantly.
His comrades turned back in shock, recognizing the fallen voice. Fear and concern flashed in their eyes.
"Idiots! Don't stop!" Sugimu barked. "I'm done for. You need to get back—report what you've seen to the captains. That's an order!"
Lying in a pool of his own blood, Sugimu knew he wouldn't survive. But he had no intention of dying in vain.
"But 6th Seat Sugimu…"
They hesitated. Loyalty to a dying friend clashed with the instinct to follow orders.
"Too much damn talking!"
Two more reishi arrows flew toward them. Instinctively, Sugimu acted.
A wall of flames burst from his released Zanpakutō, incinerating the arrows mid-flight. The blaze roared between the fleeing Shinigami and their hunter.
On one leg, with fire blazing around him, Sugimu dashed forward toward the approaching Quincy, sword in hand.
Tears welled up in the eyes of his comrades.
"Don't let his sacrifice be in vain!" barked their squad leader. He yanked them forward.
The officer knew: Sugimu couldn't possibly defeat a Sternritter alone in his condition. His charge was a distraction—a final act of bravery to protect his brothers-in-arms.
Despite the despair… despite the tragedy… they ran.
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