In Hueco Mundo.
Unlike the Soul Society, which was actively making preparations for the coming war, Mazuru appeared unusually calm and composed. There was no visible sense of urgency in his actions. Instead, during this period of time, under his direct instructions, the researchers within Hueco Mundo had already begun conducting targeted research, developing poisons specifically meant for the quincy.
From previous experimental conclusions, it had already been confirmed that the power of hollows acted as a kind of poison toward quincy.
Once it entered their bodies, it would gradually corrode and destabilize them, eventually leading to complete physical and spiritual collapse.
This led to a key question.
Since hollow power already functioned like a toxin to quincies, could this process be accelerated artificially?
Could the effect be forced to occur instantly?
Mazuru had personally reviewed those research reports.
The results were clear.
The stronger the quincy, the stronger their resistance to hollow power. Even though their bodies would still deteriorate after being contaminated, they were capable of enduring for a significantly longer period of time.
This was precisely the reason why, after Kurosaki Masaki had been infected by the power of White, her condition did not immediately collapse but instead worsened gradually over time.
However, war was not a controlled experiment.
On the battlefield, every second was critical.
Even if there was an opportunity to inject hollow power into the enemy's body, there would be absolutely no time to wait for that power to slowly ferment and take effect.
Because of this, what Mazuru needed was not a slow-acting toxin.
What he needed, was a lethal poison.
A poison that, once the quincy had already been contaminated by hollow power, could immediately trigger total collapse and death.
…
Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, the sky was bright and clear, without a single cloud in sight. The wind was calm, and everything appeared peaceful.
Under normal circumstances, this would have been considered perfect weather.
But for the shinigami who had already entered a state of full battle readiness, this day only brought tension.
Because today, was the day the quincy would officially begin their war against Soul Society.
Within the streets of Seireitei, many shinigami held their Zanpakutō tightly as they patrolled, their expressions tense and vigilant.
Of course, there were also some who remained indifferent.
After all, nothing had happened yet.
But in the next instant, a terrifying reiatsu suddenly descended.
Everyone instinctively raised their heads.
In the sky stood a middle-aged man, wearing a loose robe, his thick beard giving him a domineering presence.
"It seems… you are all prepared."
Yhwach.
After a thousand years, he once again appeared beneath the sunlight.
Before the shinigami could even process how he was able to stand in the air in Seireitei, the ground erupted.
BOOM!! BOOM!! BOOM!!
From all across Seireitei, blue pillars of flame burst violently from underground.
One after another, they shot into the sky.
Many shinigami were caught off guard and engulfed within those pillars of fire, dying instantly.
BOOM—! BOOM—! BOOM—! BOOM—!
The explosions rang out continuously.
Terrifying waves of spirit particles spread outward in all directions.
Inside the Technology Development Department, the instruments used to detect spirit particles malfunctioned immediately.
The reason was simple; the concentration of spirit particles had become far too high to measure.
Across every division, captains and vice-captains sensed the overwhelming fluctuations.
Their expressions grew solemn.
Without hesitation, they tightly gripped their Zanpakutō.
"So… it has begun…"
"The war…"
First Division.
Inside the Captain-Commander's office.
Chojiro's injuries were far too severe. He had yet to recover and remained in the midst of treatment.
Standing behind Yamamoto now was Okikiba Genshiro, the Third Seat of the First Division.
"I will go to battle. You will remain here and guard this place."
"Yes!"
Okikiba immediately acknowledged the order.
Without hesitation, Yamamoto stepped forward and walked out of the office, his expression completely serious.
Third Division.
The Visored had temporarily taken residence here.
There was no alternative.
The Third Division currently lacked both a captain and a vice-captain, making it the weakest division within the Gotei 13.
Thus, after returning, the Visored had been stationed here directly.
Of course, with their presence, the Third Division's overall strength had become somewhat excessive.
But at this moment, no one had the time to concern themselves with such matters.
As the blue pillars of flame erupted throughout Seireitei, the massive spiritual fluctuations were instantly detected.
Through instruments, many shinigami even discovered that biological signatures existed within the pillars of flame.
After comparing reiatsu, they found the horrifying result.
"There's no doubt… the quincies are hiding inside!"
Kira Izuru spoke immediately.
Strictly speaking, Izuru's situation had always been tragic.
The vice-captain he once admired, Ichimaru Gin, had betrayed the Soul Society.
Then, even the captain had defected.
After losing both captain and vice-captain, he was forced to step up and take responsibility as the highest-ranking officer of the Third Division.
When the blue pillar of flame appeared nearby, he had immediately led his subordinates to investigate.
Combining this with the intelligence distributed by the First Division earlier, he already understood the situation.
The quincy had been hiding in the shadows of Seireitei.
And now, they were emerging.
Through these pillars.
"Everyone, be careful!"
Izuru warned loudly.
Immediately, he released his Zanpakutō.
"Raise your head."
"Wabisuke!"
In the past, he had rarely taken the initiative to use his Zanpakutō.
He once believed that relying on such power to defeat enemies was disgraceful.
But now, he no longer had the luxury to think like that.
This was an enemy that even the captains treated with utmost seriousness.
Thinking of the former captains and vice-captains currently stationed in the Third Division, it was clear that the enemy's strength far exceeded expectations.
Behind him, the other officers also released their Zanpakutō one after another.
"Coil Upward — Shunjin!"
"Counteract — Katakage!"
"Blow — Mogaribue!"
But just as they completed their releases, a beam of spiritual light shot forward.
WHOOSH—!
Even though Izuru had already been on guard, the attack pierced straight through his shoulder.
Blood splattered, and one of his arms, was instantly destroyed.
Seeing this, the officers beside him were immediately shocked.
Without hesitation, they charged toward the source of the attack.
From within the blue pillar of flame, figures slowly walked out.
Men and women alike.
Their expressions were filled with amusement, as though they were observing prey.
At the same time, across the other pillars, more quincy stepped out one after another.
Their gazes toward the shinigami were cold and indifferent.
"We have been ordered…"
"To kill you all."
Standing among them, Haschwalth spoke calmly.
His tone was flat, yet absolute.
"Tremble, shinigami."
"From this moment onward…"
"The Sternritters will purge you."
And in the next instant, a brutal massacre began.
Almost immediately upon contact, the Soul Society suffered heavy casualties.
Even though they had prepared themselves mentally, the overwhelming strength of the quincy still made fear rise uncontrollably from the depths of their hearts.
*****
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✓ Killed For 100 Years in Hueco Mundo, Aizen Invited Me To Soul Society!
✓ Naruto: Senmei Asahi
✓ Naruto: Uchiha's Intelligence Dealer
✓ Naruto: The Fifth Hokage Is Naruto's Uncle
✓ Naruto: Who Made Him a Ninja?
✓ Bleach: In My Second Reincarnation, I Became The Ninth Kenpachi
✓ To Love-Ru: Spoiler Route [R-18]
✓ Naruto: The Accidental Incubus [R-18]