"Same spiritual pressure as Yhwach… but compared to a thousand years ago, it's changed a bit…"
"So that guy is still alive?"
"Then where did he hide for the past thousand years—and why are there suddenly so many Quincy appearing again…?"
Yamamoto furrowed his brows deeply, the memories of the blood-soaked war from a thousand years ago resurfacing.
Back then, the Quincy Empire had come in ferociously, clashing in a brutal war against Soul Society's Shinigami.
Because the Quincy could manipulate reishi, and because they had many powerful fighters, the Shinigami side had been forced into retreat again and again.
At that critical moment, Yamamoto and his comrades faced the Quincy Empire head-on
And only then did they reverse the tide.
One detail was worth mentioning: anyone killed by Ryūjin Jakka would have their soul burned down to a charred skeleton puppet that Ryūjin Jakka could command.
And because of that, Yamamoto discovered Yhwach's secret
That the souls and power of Quincy slain by others would be devoured by Yhwach and turned into his own strength.
So in the battles that followed, Yamamoto had nearly killed half of the Quincy Empire with his own hands, turning them all into Ryūjin Jakka's burning skeletal army—
Giving Yhwach not even a single scrap of power.
That, too, helped create the opportunity for the final showdown.
And in his battle with Yhwach, though it had been extremely difficult, Yamamoto still believed he had killed that powerful enemy
Casting both him and his Quincy Empire into the sea of flames of Ryūjin Jakka.
Yet afterward, Yamamoto realized something.
Among the burning skeletal army that Ryūjin Jakka could command…
There was no trace of Yhwach.
Not even the Quincy who had fought to the very end alongside him.
But Yamamoto could only assume that Yhwach had used his power to devour every last soul, including his own, leaving nothing behind.
And in the thousand years since, Yhwach had never shown himself.
That only "confirmed" Yamamoto's assumption.
But now
He knew he'd been wrong.
A thousand years ago, he hadn't killed Yhwach or his subordinates at all.
They had used some method he didn't know, escaping Ryūjin Jakka's inferno
And hiding for a full thousand years.
"A rat that hid for a thousand years finally shows its face. Which means… it has some confidence now, doesn't it?"
With that thought, Yamamoto snorted, then strode outside, voice heavy.
"Chōjirō! Are you alright!?"
Chōjirō stepped forward, gripping Gonryōmaru in Shikai, his face pale.
"Captain-Commander, I'm fine. But I encountered Quincy, and not any Quincy we've ever identified before."
"I know."
Yamamoto nodded, his expression dark.
"Those bastards just declared war on me."
"What!?"
Chōjirō's face changed, shocked that the Quincy would dare to declare war on the Captain-Commander.
Yamamoto shook his head, dropping the topic.
"We'll discuss that once all the captains are here. As for the rest… I need to praise you first."
A rare smile appeared on Yamamoto's face, full of approval as he looked at his vice-captain.
"You did very well just now. You actually managed to severely injure that Quincy and stop their arrogance from going any further."
Earlier, Yamamoto had sensed Driscoll's spiritual pressure.
It wasn't on the level of Chōjirō's Bankai, but it was absolutely not weak—an opponent that couldn't be taken down quickly under normal circumstances.
For Chōjirō to "end it" in such a short time meant his strength had improved quite a bit.
Hearing that, Chōjirō's face flushed hot with embarrassment. He wanted to dig a hole and bury himself.
Seeing the Captain-Commander still praising him, he couldn't take it anymore. He lowered his head and spoke in shame.
"Captain-Commander… that wasn't me. I didn't injure that Quincy. In fact… I almost got killed."
"Hmm!?"
Yamamoto froze.
Chōjirō quickly pointed at Ichigo.
"If Ichigo hadn't saved me, I'd probably be dead already."
"Ichigo…"
Only then did Yamamoto notice the Hollow form in the distance.
Truthfully, Ichigo could already hide his spiritual pressure well enough now that he was hard to detect.
"So it's him. No wonder I sensed Hollow pressure… If that's the case, then Cole that brat must have come too…"
Yamamoto's mouth twitched, his face turning visibly darker.
In over a thousand years of life, this was the first time he'd ever seen a Human treat crossing worlds like dropping by a neighbor's house.
The worst part was that the guy came to Soul Society every few days as if it was nothing—completely ignoring the absolute boundary between life and death.
After several seconds, Yamamoto finally forced himself to calm down and comforted himself internally.
"Fine. It's not entirely bad if that brat is here. At least he's strong, he'll be useful."
Then Chōjirō remembered something and urgently reported:
"Right, Captain-Commander! I noticed the Quincy are different from a thousand years ago. They have a terrifying power now—using a kind of badge, they can forcibly steal a Shinigami's Bankai."
"During the fight, my Bankai, Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū (Yellow Brilliance, Strict Spirit Detached Palace), was stolen—that's why I nearly died."
"And afterward, I realized they can not only steal our Bankai… they can actually use them. The power is exactly the same as when I use it."
After hearing Chōjirō's report, Yamamoto's face grew especially grave. He nodded slowly.
"Now it makes sense why those rats—who we crushed and forced into hiding for a thousand years—would suddenly dare to declare war."
"So they've gained new technology…"
With that, Yamamoto spoke in a deep voice:
"Issue the highest-level alert. All captains are to assemble at the First Division immediately. Seireitei enters the highest level of war readiness."
Then he glanced toward Ichigo, who was fiddling with something in the shadows, and rapped his cane against the floor, sounding irritated.
"Bring him too. And have him call Cole that brat over as well."
"Yes!"
Soon.
In the First Division hall, captains arrived one after another.
Byakuya, Shunsui, Ukitake, Komamura, Tōshirō, Kenpachi, Shinji, Kensei…
Along with the substitute Shinigami, Ichigo.
They formed two lines, faces solemn, staring at Yamamoto.
Earlier, they had already heard from Chōjirō about the Quincy intrusion into the First Division.
Beyond the shock, they were on high alert.
Because from Chōjirō's description, the Quincy Empire that had hidden for a thousand years was absolutely not to be underestimated.
At minimum, they had seven or eight captain-class fighters.
And if they added in the "tech tool" that could steal Bankai…
It was a terrifying enemy.
Possibly not even weaker than the forces Aizen once built in Las Noches.
Seeing that some captains still hadn't arrived, Yamamoto frowned and looked at Isane.
"Where is Unohana!?"
Unohana might no longer be a captain, but she should still be in Seireitei.
In a situation like this, as a former captain, she shouldn't be doing nothing.
"And where is Soi fong!?"
Yamamoto turned toward the spot where Soi fong should have been standing.
Even Kenpachi had managed to show up, so why hadn't those two arrived yet?
Isane's face reddened. She lowered her head and spoke softly.
"Captain-Commander… Captain Unohana left with Cole a while ago. She said she was going somewhere else to have some fun."
Yamamoto's face went black.
At that moment, Omaeda stepped forward stiffly, sweating bullets as he spoke.
"Captain-Commander… our captain said she went out to train with Lady Yoruichi. She's not in Soul Society right now."
"A Second Division captain in charge of intelligence… leaving at a time like this… Not even in Soul Society…"
Yamamoto's face darkened further.
He hadn't heard of anyone using the Senkaimon recently.
An ominous feeling rose in his chest.
Omaeda could only grit his teeth and continue.
"It… it was Cole who tore open a Garganta. Captain and the others left through that."
As he said that, Omaeda's legs trembled so badly he almost collapsed, silently praying in his heart:
"Captain, I had no choice! The Captain-Commander asked me! I can't lie! When you come back, please don't kill me…!"
Half a month ago, Soi fong had returned briefly—then left the Second Division again.
Before leaving, she had even warned him not to reveal her whereabouts.
"Again with that brat…"
Yamamoto's face turned nearly purple.
Fine. You come to visit.
But now you've abducted two of our captains!?
"Ichigo."
He turned and glared at Ichigo with a pitch-black expression.
Ichigo's scalp went numb. He answered stiffly:
"Old man, don't look at me. I don't know where they went either."
Yamamoto's chest heaved. He wanted nothing more than to take his anger out on Ichigo before finding Cole
But remembering that Ichigo had just saved his vice-captain, he forcibly swallowed that rage.
Letting out a long breath, Yamamoto looked sternly at the captains present, his voice unusually heavy.
"You already know the situation, so I won't repeat it."
"The enemy is the Quincy Empire that we defeated a thousand years ago. They are hiding within Soul Society."
"Find them."
"Before they can cause a larger incident, wipe them all out."
"Yes!!!"
All the captains answered in unison.
(End of Chapter)
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