At the Third Division.
Captain Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi had already left the moment the Kidō cut out.
Division affairs naturally fell to Lieutenant Kira Izuru.
Now, with massive flame pillars erupting throughout the Seireitei, the situation had instantly reached maximum emergency!
Level One Combat Alert!
Kira coordinated combat assignments while issuing orders to members.
"Spiritual Particle Investigation Team?! Where are the detection results?!"
"S-sorry! These flame pillars have such high spiritual particle density, the counters are completely scrambled!!"
The Spiritual Particle Investigation Team consisted of Department of Research and Development members assigned to assist divisions with intelligence gathering.
Their primary task now was naturally investigating these spiritual pressure pillars.
Hearing this response, Kira's frown deepened. He looked at a nearby division member—
"Do you think... enemies might appear inside the pillars... Togakushi?"
"Yeah... nowhere else makes sense." The member named Togakushi nodded.
Just then, a nearby Investigation Team member's expression changed. He called out loudly—
"De-detected specific spiritual pressure! Match rate with sample extraction is 93%...!"
"The enemy... are Quincy!!"
"?!"
Kira and the others' faces darkened.
Though mentally prepared, hearing confirmation still stirred their hearts.
No one imagined that halfway through Segawa Shigure's message, the Quincy would... launch a direct attack!
Their declaration had said "five days from now," but now...
"Truly... despicable..."
Kira gritted his teeth, muttering softly.
But the instant those words fell, they suddenly noticed a figure slowly emerging from within the brilliant blue-white flames.
"So they really are... inside?!"
The moment he saw it, Kira reacted instantly. He drew his Zanpakutō, narrowed his eyes, and charged forward with a shout—
"I see them! Let's go!"
But the instant he charged forward, everything changed!
BANG!
A brilliant crimson beam suddenly shot violently from within the blue-white flame pillar!
Rushing straight toward Kira Izuru's chest!
Despite Kira's awareness, the explosive spiritual pressure and extreme speed left no time to dodge!
SPLURT!!!
The instant the beam contacted Kira Izuru, it pierced clean through his right side!!
No chance to resist. Kira's mind went blank.
His sword arm fell away!
No blood sprayed. Everything... instantly vaporized by the beam's high temperature!!
No... that wasn't a beam either...
That was... high-speed flames!!
"Ugh..."
Kira's mouth emitted weak, unconscious sounds. His consciousness rapidly faded, pupils dilating, then he collapsed forward.
"NOOOOO! Lieutenant Kira!!!"
The Third Division members cried out in anguish.
Then, three division members who'd followed Kira drew their Zanpakutō simultaneously.
The Third Division's Third, Fifth, and Sixth Seats—representing the division's top combat power below captain and lieutenant!
Now, the three glared furiously at the enemy in the pillar, releasing their Zanpakutō—
"A sneak attack! Utterly despicable!! Don't think you'll escape!!!"
"Destroy him... 'Partial Shade'!"
"Sound out!! 'Tiger's Falling Flute'!"
"Swirl up... 'Spring Dust'!!!"
BOOM!!!
Three Zanpakutō released simultaneously, instantly stirring a spiritual pressure storm.
But then, everything changed again!
A high-speed pure white figure suddenly flashed past all three!
SPLURT!!
Before they could react, sharp blades cut them down.
Blood sprayed... they fell instantly.
No battle process at all!
Three seated officers with released Zanpakutō were... instantly killed in under a second!!
The Third Division members watching completely panicked, losing all will to fight.
"AAAAHHH!!!"
Screaming in terror, everyone began fleeing.
Their beliefs as Gotei members told them not to desert.
But the terror of death had seized their bodies, leaving them unable to muster any fighting spirit.
Then, an even more massive attack crushed down on them.
BANG!!!
Like a mountain crushing ants, every division member died instantly.
Only then did the pure white figure slowly stop, revealing itself.
Beneath a white uniform hood, his lips curved in a strange smile as he muttered—
"...My apologies."
"Though bullying the weak disgusts me, however—"
"The orders we received from His Majesty... are to annihilate you all completely, leaving none alive!"
"Heh heh..."
Simultaneously, throughout the Seireitei, figures began emerging from the massive flame pillars.
They wore identical uniforms, faces bearing nearly identical smiles.
Then, in the sky at the center of all flame pillars, a pure white figure materialized.
He stood alone in the high air like a descending emperor, looking down upon the entire Seireitei.
He had golden hair, golden lashes, and... ice-cold eyes.
Wandenreich Emperor's Adjutant—Haschwalth!
Gazing down without joy or sorrow, pale white spiritual particles gathered before his throat.
His expression indifferent, eyes slightly lowered, he spoke calmly—
"Tremble... Soul Reapers."
"Now, we Sternritter shall completely... eliminate you."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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