In the pure-white grand hall, an eerie silence fell.
It wasn't that no one wanted to break it—rather, everyone felt a nameless fear.
Because what this involved was simply too huge.
On one side was the newly emerged Legion Commander, who had crushed multiple Sternritter members with thunderous force the moment he appeared, and who could even fight Haschwalth—one of the highest-ranking Sternritter—without losing ground.
On the other side was the Quincy King who had not shown himself for a thousand years, yet was still called the King of Quincy, the one who ruled the Wandenreich—Yhwach.
Either of them was terrifying. Say the wrong thing, and you could offend one of them.
If you offended Commander-sama, Commander-sama might punish you right here and now.
But if you offended Heika, then once Heika awakened and launched Auswählen (Holy Selection), your power and your life would be ripped away in an instant.
Thinking of that, Bazz-B almost wanted to smack himself twice.
Serves you right for running your mouth.
Now look—he'd been put on the spot.
Cold sweat slid down his forehead as his brain spun wildly, trying to figure out how to answer Cole's question.
But no matter how he thought, he couldn't come up with anything.
Just as he was at his wits' end, a sudden voice rang out in the hall.
"Commander-sama, please rest assured! Even if Heika awakens, I absolutely won't let him disturb your cultivation!"
The voice was loud and unwavering, echoing through the grand hall like a bell.
Several former Sternritter members were stunned and instinctively looked over, wanting to see which brave soul it was.
Was he trying to die?
Daring to show such disrespect toward Heika in public.
That was the King of Quincy—the most exalted being in the entire empire.
But when they saw who spoke, their eyes filled with shock again.
Because it was only an ordinary holy soldier.
He was guarding the entrance to the hall, staring at Cole on the throne with reverent worship.
At the same time, another holy soldier beside him—also on guard—spoke with fanatic heat.
"Commander-sama, I've never seen Heika, but I believe your existence far surpasses Heika! You're the strongest in our nation! I'm honored to be your subordinate!"
Truly ignorant—and fearless…
That thought silently surfaced in the minds of the former Sternritter.
These new-generation young Quincies had never experienced the blood war a thousand years ago. They simply couldn't comprehend Heika's power.
Once Heika awakened, the life of any Quincy would be decided by a single thought.
And as they reached that thought, an inexplicable question rose in their hearts.
If Cole hadn't understood Heika's power before, that would be understandable—back then, he had only been an ordinary holy soldier.
But now he was the Legion Commander. He had definitely learned about Heika's power from Bambietta.
So why did he still dare to be this arrogant!?
It was practically open provocation of Heika's authority.
Without realizing it, their gazes all turned toward the throne—to the black-haired youth who looked so young.
Under countless eyes, Cole merely gave a light smile. He looked at the two holy soldiers with praise and said:
"You two are very good. When it comes to loyalty, you're even several times stronger than these captains under my command."
As he spoke, Cole glanced at Liltotto—who had just been given a heavy responsibility and still looked somewhat blank—and said calmly:
"Lili, I think these two holy soldiers are excellent. Next, you should focus on training them."
Liltotto fell silent for two seconds, then nodded with that expressionless, three-no-kind-of-girl vibe and replied:
"I understand, Commander-sama."
Seeing Cole finish speaking and prepare to stand and leave the military police hall, Bazz-B couldn't hold it in anymore. He blurted out:
"Commander-sama, aren't you worried about Heika waking up?"
"Heika is the King of Quincy, after all."
After speaking, he looked at Cole with a mix of nervousness and anticipation.
With those words, he was basically saying outright: Heika will wake up soon—aren't you afraid Heika will use Auswählen (Holy Selection)?
Cole paused, then smiled lightly and asked instead:
"So what if Heika awakens? He's indeed the King of Quincy, but the Quincy race wasn't created by him."
As he spoke, Cole slowly stretched, then walked deeper into the hall, his voice unhurried.
"Just a king who was defeated a thousand years ago. Even if he's the King of Quincy, he's long since fallen behind the changes of the era."
When the words fell, Cole's figure vanished into the shadows of the pristine hall.
And after he left…
The hall remained dead silent.
From start to finish, aside from Bazz-B asking Cole one question, and Liltotto answering Cole one question, no one else said a single word.
Even those two holy soldiers didn't dare speak. They only looked at Liltotto with eager, expectant eyes.
That atmosphere persisted for a long time.
Only then did Bazz-B snap back to himself. He waved a hand, having the two holy soldiers withdraw first, then took a deep breath.
It was like he was trying to suppress his emotions—yet couldn't suppress the excitement surging in his heart.
He stood up, slammed both hands onto the white table, stared at his companions, and nearly roared:
"Hey, hey, hey!!!"
"What did Commander-sama mean by that!?"
"Has he already reached the point where he can challenge Heika!???"
The uncontrollable excitement—those near-roaring words—said everything about the madness in Bazz-B's heart.
No one responded, because their hearts were still trembling.
A thousand years!!!
He was the first Quincy to dare challenge Heika.
And not some ordinary Quincy—strength-wise, he was nearly on equal footing with Haschwalth.
Could it really just be arrogance that made him want to challenge Heika?
Or… did he have confidence!?
Then what, exactly, gave him the confidence to challenge the King of Quincy!?
Seeing no one answer, Bazz-B licked his lips, then suddenly pounded the table, glaring at them.
"Are you all mute!?"
"Answer me!!!"
"Commander-sama—what is he relying on to dare challenge Heika!?"
When he said this, his voice squeezed out from between his teeth—fearful yet thrilled.
"Could it be… he can already resist Heika's Auswählen (Holy Selection)!?"
Auswählen (Holy Selection)!
The moment that word was spoken, the former Sternritter members all involuntarily held their breath.
Because it wasn't just Heika's royal authority.
It was also the sword of Damocles hanging over their heads.
Did they really have that much loyalty to Yhwach?
Of course not.
They were people. And since they were people, they had all kinds of thoughts—including betraying Yhwach.
Or escaping the shadowy space called the Wandenreich, which was really a thousand-year prison.
Or going to the more prosperous Soul Society, returning to their old homeland in the Human World.
After all, they had been away from home for a thousand years.
So why hadn't they done it?
Not only had they not done it, they'd instead curled up in this cramped Wandenreich, until everyone ended up with some kind of mental illness.
Was it because of hatred toward Shinigami?
What a joke.
Time buries everything—love, hatred, attachment… and a thousand years was more than enough.
If the Wandenreich didn't occasionally capture a few Shinigami and drag them in, they might have even forgotten what Shinigami looked like.
There was only one reason they stayed.
Fear of Heika's Auswählen (Holy Selection).
Don't think Auswählen (Holy Selection) only steals a Quincy's power and life.
Under the absolute authority of Yhwach, the King of Quincy—once your life was taken by Auswählen (Holy Selection), your soul would be taken with it, becoming nourishment for Yhwach's recovery.
Unlike ordinary Shinigami, ordinary Hollows, ordinary humans…
When a Quincy's life was taken by Auswählen (Holy Selection), they would be erased from the cycle of life entirely—completely annihilated.
They would not exist in this world at all.
Even powerful Shinigami and powerful Hollows—after death, even if they couldn't return to the cycle of life, at least they still had the chance to fall into Hell.
But Quincies under Auswählen (Holy Selection) didn't even get the chance to go to Hell.
That was why they revered Yhwach, feared Yhwach, and willingly hid in the Wandenreich for a thousand years.
Because no one wanted to be erased completely.
And now, right in front of them, stood a powerful Quincy—
Openly provoking the King of Quincy, Yhwach.
And even vaguely implying he had a secret for resisting Auswählen (Holy Selection).
Bazz-B forced himself to calm down a little. He inhaled deeply, closed his eyes, and murmured as if praying:
"There's no mistake. Commander-sama's last line was saying he can resist Auswählen (Holy Selection). He's a genius who can improve Blut Vene (Static Blood Armor), Blut Arterie (Flowing Blood Armor), and even Letzt Stil (Final Style)…!"
Just now, he had used the title "King of Quincy" to hint at Yhwach's Auswählen (Holy Selection).
And Cole had used the same title to look down on the former King of Quincy—saying he could no longer keep up with the era.
Then what was the "era" now?
Of course—power systems.
In today's Quincy race, the standard was incomplete Blut Vene (Static Blood Armor) and Blut Arterie (Flowing Blood Armor), treated as the perfected route.
But Cole had improved Blut into something even more perfect.
In today's Quincy race, Letzt Stil (Final Style) was considered outdated technology.
But Cole had improved Letzt Stil into something even more perfect.
If that was the case, then why couldn't this genius Quincy create a special method specifically to guard against Auswählen (Holy Selection)?
Thinking of that, Bazz-B clenched his fist, then smashed it down in excitement.
Boom!
The pure-white round table shattered under the punch.
Broken stones clattered and scattered.
Meninas brushed rubble off her legs, pouting with that airheaded look, complaining at Bazz-B:
"Hey, Bazz-B, don't just wreck stuff. It's dirty. Now we'll have to rebuild this place again."
But Bazz-B ignored her entirely.
His eyes burned with fanatic heat as he stared toward the shadow where Cole had left. He clenched both fists—hot flames igniting over them—and shouted:
"Commander-sama! I, Bazz-B, believe in you! You will become the new King of Quincy!"
That fanatic voice echoed through the hall.
The others stared at Bazz-B in disbelief.
Just because of one line from Commander-sama, you're betraying Heika!?
Are you insane?
What if what he said is false?
Even if it's true, how can you be sure he can definitely defeat Heika?
He only fought Haschwalth to a draw!
Deep within the hall, in a place they couldn't see…
The black-haired youth walking forward heard the shout, and the corner of his mouth lifted into a faint curve.
(End of Chapter)
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