"The Soul Society is our sworn enemy."
"To ensure our operations proceed smoothly, that our revenge is fully realized—"
"Proper preparation and targeted action are absolutely essential."
Yhwach's tone was calm. As the progenitor of the Quincy, he possessed an unrivaled pride and dignity, but that never made him arrogant or inflexible.
In fact, quite the opposite.
The lessons of a thousand years ago had now become valuable experience.
"Jugram, distribute the materials."
"As you command."
As the second-in-command of the Invisible Empire, Jugram dutifully followed Yhwach's order.
He raised his right hand and gently tapped the air before him.
Streams of Reishi flowed out like a breeze, swirling invisibly in the air before coalescing into a thin, solid, rectangular form.
The Sternritter couldn't help but shout out in surprise.
"What's that?!"
"Never seen that tech before... is it new?"
"Looks super advanced. I bet it's hard to use."
Jugram, the one performing the feat, remained expressionless and stone-like.
Only Yhwach seemed to enjoy the admiration.
Supporting his chin with one hand, he leaned forward slightly, as if overturning the world, and observed in silence.
"Quiet."
"It is a virtue to wait in silence while others work."
"As my children, such discipline should be second nature—without exception."
His unquestionable tone silenced the room completely.
Jugram continued weaving the spiritual threads. Though his face was impassive, the tremble in his fingertips betrayed the complexity of the process.
Finally—
On the Reishi-formed tablet, clear images began to appear.
They were—
Scenes of Soul Reapers in combat.
The content was diverse: routine training drills of low-level squads, sparring between seated officers, even vice-captain promotion tests.
Yhwach watched the images above, a calm smile surfacing on his lips.
"Behold, the current state of the Soul Society."
"These scenes were captured by those we've embedded within the empire—constant observation, recorded without pause."
"These are our enemies—those who once inflicted failure and pain upon us... the Shinigami."
It was a factual explanation, but still, someone couldn't help themselves from speaking up.
Bambietta let out a huff and scoffed.
"Your Majesty, these people look weak! We don't even need Royal Guard members—I could wipe them out alone!"
Although what she said bordered on insubordination—
Sometimes it took a blunt mind to break a deadlock.
Yhwach showed no sign of offense. He answered with calm authority.
"No need to rush. What I'm showing you is only one facet of them."
"To annihilate a species, one must understand its structure, its workings... I need you all to comprehend the Soul Reapers' origins and growth."
"Only then, when we strike, can we identify their most vulnerable points—and deal the fatal blow."
"Cruel" was not enough to describe Yhwach's mindset.
His hatred for the Soul Society was on full display.
Whether it stemmed from his defeat at the hands of Yamamoto Genryūsai or the fate of the Soul King and the role of noble houses...
Whatever the reason—
It was no wonder this final arc was titled "The Thousand-Year Blood War."
"I... I see..."
Bambietta sat down, visibly deflated.
She'd finally found an opening to brag before the king—only for it to end like this.
Where did it go wrong?
Even she tried to reflect...
Yhwach didn't linger on the matter. Having Jugram display these scenes was meant to familiarize the younger generation.
Many of them had never even seen a Shinigami—so this was necessary groundwork.
Once this introduction ended, Jugram shifted the display.
Now, the main topic began.
"In simple terms—"
"The Thirteen Court Guard Squads, and above them, the Royal Guard—these are our true enemies."
"They possess over a dozen captain-class individuals, and wield powers called 'Bankai.'"
As Yhwach explained, familiar faces appeared onscreen.
Had Ichigo Kurosaki been present, he'd be left speechless.
He appeared in nearly every scene...
From the earliest Ryoka invasion, to the internal Soul Society battles, to the clash in Karakura Town.
Ichigo was always at the center—after all, he was a natural fuse for chaos.
Even Bambietta, loud as ever, fell silent at the footage.
Well... mostly silent.
After a brief pause, someone else spoke up.
Pushing up his glasses, well-groomed and stern, Quilge stood and spoke with a formal tone.
"Your Majesty, if these are their forces, I believe... such extensive preparations may be unnecessary."
In the Soul Society, power equated to spiritual pressure.
This line of thinking wasn't wrong. Though systems changed, the "weight of the soul" was a reliable metric.
As evidence—
"Even at full strength, these captain-class individuals are not significantly stronger than us."
That statement alone wasn't enough. As a soldier, Quilge continued.
"If their power matches ours, we still hold a surplus of thirty combatants."
Normally, Quilge would be more arrogant.
But in front of Yhwach, he exercised restraint.
"Even being modest, I don't believe the Invisible Empire will fall behind."
Then, he bowed slightly.
"Of course, Your Majesty, the final judgment rests with you. I merely wished to express my opinion."
"If I overstepped—"
Yhwach had already closed his eyes.
"No need to worry."
The purpose of this meeting was dialogue. Without feedback, there'd be no exchange.
"Jugram, explain simply."
"Understood."
Rather than with words, Jugram responded by adjusting the footage.
He displayed side-by-side comparisons.
"Not all captains are equally strong."
"Among them are those more troublesome—more dangerous. We must prepare for them specifically."
As he spoke, the screen changed again, revealing clearer images.
"Those who have yet to reveal their Bankai... or whose very presence is a threat—I will mark them. The Knights must pay close attention."
These were the Special Threat Forces.
"Kurosaki Ichigo—'Potential.'"
"Kenpachi Kiganjō—'Combat Strength.'"
"Hyōsube Ichibē—'Wisdom.'"
"Aizen Sōsuke—'Spiritual Pressure.'"
"Urahara Kisuke—'Tactics.'"
Jugram paused, the images looping. His tone grew heavier.
"These individuals must be prioritized. But this is not an order to avoid them..."
"On the contrary—if you can take them down by your own strength, it will be your glory."
"So remember their names. Their faces."
By now, even the most dismissive members paid close attention, committing every detail to memory.
Seiya felt something odd.
He raised an eyebrow and glanced sideways.
He saw Uryū Ishida with tightly pressed lips. His expression remained neutral, but his fists clenched on his knees.
His whole body trembled slightly.
Not out of fear—
But concern for Kurosaki Ichigo.
It was no surprise... after all, Uryū was now within the Invisible Empire.
He knew how drastically his own power had changed—and how terrifying Yhwach truly was.
This was a realm beyond the Shinigami's grasp.
Yet Ichigo had been pulled into it.
That concern bubbled over, becoming uncontrollable, reflected clearly in his body.
He couldn't stay calm.
Seiya crossed one leg over the other, subtly coughed, and leaned closer.
Ahem.
That was all it took.
Uryū, sharp as ever, immediately recognized his loss of composure.
He bowed his head, adjusted his expression—
When he looked up again, his face was perfectly neutral.
Before he could say anything—
A cold voice interrupted from beside them.
"Hey. What are you two doing?"
Turning halfway, they saw...
Lille Barro.
With his lone eye wide open, he stared directly at them.
His face was blank, his gaze icy. Uryū instinctively tensed.
But Lille simply turned away, scolding coolly.
"His Majesty is still speaking. As his Royal Guard, we must show discipline. If it happens again, I won't ignore it."
This kind of blind loyalty made him Yhwach's "most successful" creation.
Truly the captain of the Schutzstaffel.
Seiya just smiled awkwardly in response, and the matter passed.
No one else paid it much mind. Jugram had just finished his explanation, and the room moved on.
"Why isn't that scary old guy part of the Special Threat Forces?"
Bambietta raised her hand, pointing at the display.
At that moment, it showed Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni unleashing Ryūjin Jakka, turning the sky crimson.
"That guy's insanely strong!"
Even casual viewers could sense real power.
Jugram replied evenly:
"Because His Majesty has other plans for him. Barring surprises, the Sternritter won't face that old man."
No question—Yamamoto was Yhwach's prey.
Yhwach narrowed his eyes slightly, recalling the past.
He was never known for mercy.
A thousand-year vendetta—he would settle it himself.
The old man had grown weaker, after all. His spine was rumored to have been broken in the last battle...
Retired to the sidelines, eh?
Heh. As if hiding could end this, Yamamoto Genryūsai...
Some debts are never settled.
Hearing this, the room fell silent.
No one dared prod Yhwach's bitterness—there was no value in pressing further.
But someone had a different question.
Bazz-B rubbed his temples.
"Then what about the guy who fought the head captain? That dude was nuts too, right?"
The screen showed them—
Two figures clashing, unleashing power enough to destroy heaven and earth.
Seiya Arima.
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Powerstones?
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