"AAAAAH…!"
"AAAAAH…!"
Agonized screams rang out across the sky.
Two figures, drenched in blood and dressed in white Quincy robes, both Adjuchas-class Hollows were writhing madly on the ground.
Their white robes were dyed red.
The white floor was dyed red as well.
And the gaping wounds across their bodies were still widening, as if they were about to be erased into nothingness.
Fortunately, the Quincy power gradually weakened, allowing the two Adjuchas-class Hollows to barely cling to life.
Relying on the terrifying vitality of the Hollow race, they didn't die on the spot.
But they no longer had any strength left to resist.
Azkielro struggled to lift his head, staring at Yhwach as he rasped in pain:
"How is this possible…? In just an instant, we didn't even have time to react. Even our Hierro was useless…"
He never imagined the Quincy King, who had slept for a thousand years, would be this overwhelmingly powerful.
Jugram, however, wasn't surprised at all—because from the moment Yhwach awakened, he had already understood what kind of power he carried.
So Jugram withdrew his hand, looked at the two Hollows still barely breathing, and asked respectfully:
"Your Majesty, shall I kill them?"
Yhwach glanced at him. His voice was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable pressure.
"Do you think I spared them because I wanted you to execute them?"
"I wouldn't dare!"
Jugram shook his head quickly.
With his understanding of Yhwach, Jugram knew that although Yhwach's expression was flat, his fury had already surged to the sky.
Thinking of that, Jugram couldn't help glancing at the Sternritter members seated in two rows by the table, cold sweat pouring down.
These people… because of Cole, seemed to have forgotten just how terrifying His Majesty truly was.
When those two Hollows made their move,
they didn't even think about stopping them.
Instead, they actually wanted to use it to test His Majesty's strength.
If the Wandenreich hadn't already fallen into division, then with the Yhwach of a thousand years ago, they would have been killed on the spot.
Only then did Yhwach withdraw his gaze. He flicked his eyes toward the two Hollows and said coldly:
"Brainless livestock. Killing them like this would be letting them off too lightly. Drag them to Silbern and execute them in public."
Ever since a thousand years ago, the Quincy Empire had a tradition of public executions.
It wasn't only to judge criminals, it was also to terrify the other Quincies and crush any unrealistic thoughts.
He simply hadn't expected that the moment he awakened, someone would dare provoke him openly.
Fortunately, right before acting, he had deliberately activated his ability and taken a look at the future—so he suppressed the impulse to immediately use Seibetsu (Holy Selection).
Because in the future he saw, those Quincies followed him in the invasion of Seireitei.
Meaning…
their crimes did not warrant death.
But to be honest, it was also because he didn't have enough usable Quincy elites under him right now—otherwise, he would absolutely have killed about a third of them just to vent his anger.
"Enough. Tell me again about that madman."
Yhwach looked at Jugram.
In the hazy state between sleep and waking, he had sensed the situation within the Wandenreich—and while still asleep, he had unleashed Seibetsu (Holy Selection).
What shocked him was that the Seibetsu (Holy Selection) he activated sank like a stone into the sea.
Not even the slightest ripple appeared.
So after awakening, he activated Zenchi Zenno (The Almighty) without hesitation—the power to see the future.
Yet within the fragments of the future he saw, there was never any Quincy named Cole.
There wasn't even the Military Police Corps.
That unease made him abandon the idea of going directly to find the traitor.
Jugram nodded and began explaining Cole's situation, along with the current state of affairs.
"The current commander of the Military Police Corps is named Cole. As early as a year ago, he was still only a hidden-strength Soldat…"
"He modified the Blut Vene (Static Blood Armor) and Blut Arterie (Flowing Blood Armor) we possess, and improved our Complete Holy Form… making it so it can be maintained without limit…"
"Right now, he has seven former Sternritter under his command, and over ninety thousand Quincy Soldat…"
While Jugram spoke,
the Sternritter members who had been in the Ice Palace were all sweating, hearts pounding, unease spreading through them like poison.
It felt like standing at the guillotine.
Everyone knew Yhwach's nature—cruel, cold, and utterly merciless.
Just now, they had allowed two Hollows to attack Yhwach. He definitely saw through it.
He simply hadn't dealt with it yet.
But once Jugram finished…
Yhwach might punish them.
In that moment, some regretted it, some seethed at themselves, some trembled in fear…
Many of them were filled with bitter remorse at not joining the Military Police Corps.
Others hated themselves for staying silent and doing nothing.
That was His Majesty—the Quincy King.
The instant he awakened, in the entire Wandenreich…
who could possibly be his opponent?
Time passed in that suffocating atmosphere.
When Yhwach finished hearing everything, he looked at Jugram with cold indifference.
"In the end, it's because your ability wasn't enough. Back then, I entrusted the Wandenreich to you. I never imagined you'd let it become like this."
Jugram lowered his head in shame.
After dismissing Jugram, Yhwach turned his gaze to the Sternritter present and said icily:
"So it was that brat… who made you abandon your loyalty to me?"
The Sternritter all shuddered as overwhelming fear surged up from their bones.
Among them, As Nödt looked the worst. His body trembled, face pale, and he shook his head desperately.
"Your Majesty, you misunderstand! How could we ever be disloyal to you?!"
The others hurried to echo him.
None of them wanted to have their power stripped away by Yhwach and be executed publicly.
Yhwach snorted.
"This time, I'll let it pass. If there's a next time… don't bother staying alive."
"Yes!"
The Sternritter shouted in unison.
They finally let out a breath of relief.
But at the same time, suspicion crept into their minds.
Because if it were the Yhwach of a thousand years ago, how could he be this forgiving?
Was it because there weren't enough Quincies under him?
Or because Cole existed?
They silently guessed in their hearts.
Before the atmosphere could sink back into silence, Jugram asked respectfully:
"Your Majesty, what should we do next?"
Hearing that, even Yhwach felt a tangle of hesitation—because even he didn't know what should come first.
Should he go kill that commander named Cole?
Or should he rest for a few days and then directly lead his forces into war against the Shinigami of Seireitei?
Yhwach tapped his finger against the throne, thinking.
By his nature, he should first eliminate the traitor—only then could he better control the Wandenreich.
After all, the Quincies here, though nominally his subordinates, were nothing more than batteries to him.
As long as he was weakened or injured, he could recover by absorbing their power and life.
But now, for some reason, this "great battery" called the Wandenreich—ninety percent of its charge was no longer under his control.
What truly unsettled him was the fact that he couldn't see Cole in the future at all.
And that "not seeing" meant he didn't have a guaranteed victory.
If he got injured because of it…
in his current state, that injury might cause him to fall back into slumber.
He needed war—he needed the Quincies under him and the Shinigami to slaughter each other madly—so he could ensure his own stability.
After thinking for a long while, Yhwach ultimately chose to play it safe. He said evenly:
"Jugram. Go and summon that Military Police Corps commander, Cole. I have something to discuss with him."
Jugram wasn't shocked this time, but his heart still trembled.
Yhwach facing betrayal…
hadn't chosen battle.
He wanted to talk.
What that implied… Jugram didn't dare think further.
He could only nod respectfully.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The atmosphere returned to a deadlock once more.
After a while, Yhwach coldly looked at Jugram and the Sternritter present.
"Why are you still standing here?"
If not for Cole disrupting his plan, he would already be sending people to invade Seireitei.
Yet these Sternritter under him were acting blind and deaf… as if they couldn't see or hear anything.
The Sternritter all looked unbearably awkward and instinctively turned their eyes toward Jugram, hoping he could explain.
It wasn't that they didn't want to leave.
It was that they had nowhere to go.
Jugram was equally speechless. With a bitter expression, he said to Yhwach:
"Your Majesty… because you were asleep, the Military Police Corps' territory expanded rapidly and has already covered the entire Wandenreich…"
As he spoke, he couldn't help lifting his head to Yhwach. Rare tension appeared on his face, his voice dry.
"Silbern… is within his territory."
Hearing that, Yhwach understood at once. A flash of anger crossed his icy eyes.
Arrogant.
A mere Soldat brat—and he dared occupy Silbern.
That was the first city Yhwach had built.
Only a thousand years had passed, and it had become someone else's land.
So much so that Yhwach didn't even have a place to hold an execution.
Pulling his thoughts back, Yhwach said coldly to Jugram:
"Then why are you still standing there? Hurry up and bring that man to me. Do you want me to personally go looking for him?"
Jugram didn't argue. He quickly agreed.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I'll go find him and have him bring his people to pay their respects. But please, you must be careful…"
Jugram's tone was heavy with concern.
Because the current Cole truly was terrifying.
And with his personality… he might very well fight His Majesty on the spot.
Jugram left.
Yhwach didn't say another word. He simply closed his eyes, seated high upon the throne.
In time without slaughter and death, every time he spoke, every time he acted, it drained his life force.
So before large-scale killing began, he truly didn't want to clash with Cole.
Perfect.
Let him come.
Let Yhwach see just how strong he really was.
And the Sternritter present were all eagerly anticipating it.
One was the Quincy King, freshly awakened after a thousand years—killing two Adjuchas-class Hollows the moment he opened his eyes.
The other was a commander who had risen in less than a year, monstrously gifted—improving two powers, even able to resist Seibetsu (Holy Selection).
If those two fought…
the outcome really would be impossible to predict.
"What? He won't go see His Majesty?"
Jugram widened his eyes in shock, staring at Bazz-B in disbelief.
He even suspected he'd heard wrong, so he asked again, grinding his teeth:
"I said His Majesty has already awakened, and he's furious. Cole needs to go immediately."
"I said I heard you. You don't need to ask a second time. Our commander isn't going."
Bazz-B looked impatient.
He had been nervous at first, but once he realized Yhwach hadn't come in person, his heart relaxed instead.
Splitting the Wandenreich sounded simple, but within the Wandenreich, it was a capital crime—an offense that had to be executed.
Yet the Quincy King, awakened after a thousand years, hadn't come himself.
He sent Jugram to announce it.
So didn't that mean…
the Quincy King who slept for a thousand years was afraid of their commander?
The more he thought about it, the more confident he became. He waved Jugram off impatiently.
"You should hurry back. If you dare interrupt the commander's important business… I won't let you off."
Last time, he had interrupted Cole's "important business," and he'd almost regretted it so badly his guts turned to ash.
This time, no matter what, he couldn't make that stupid mistake again.
At the same time…
Inside the snow-white Military Police Corps building, Yoruichi—her wheat-colored skin gleaming—clenched her fists in frustration.
"Where did that brat Cole run off to?!"
"Hurry back already!!"
(End of Chapter)
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