A sword was his life.
Nothing in the world mattered more to him than his sword, well, except good wine.
So when the thirty-six Venerables heard him ask for it, their expressions immediately darkened. Looking closely, there was even deep fear in their eyes.
It was hard to imagine. These thirty-six Venerables each ruled over a world. Every one of them was an expert above Starlight Level 5, standing at the very peak of the Nie Kingdom. Yet all of them showed such fear before this single man.
"Bring him his sword," at last, one of the Venerables ordered in a deep voice.
His voice traveled toward the northeast, carried by some mysterious force, and everyone looked in that direction.
A squad of a hundred warriors rose into the sky. At the center of the formation, one man held a sword with both hands.
The sword itself looked completely ordinary. It wasn't ornate or luxurious; in fact, it was so plain that it seemed entirely unremarkable. Yet no one doubted how terrifying it would become once it returned to its master's hand.
Several minutes later, after a tense silence, the squad delivered the sword to the leading Venerable.
"We'll return your sword," the Venerable warned in a deep voice. "But don't try anything. And these chains will stay on."
The man chuckled and crooked the fingers of his raised right hand.
With a wave of his arm, the Venerable threw the sword toward him.
'Smack.'
The sword spun through the air, flipping end over end. Yet, as though it had found its rightful owner, it landed perfectly in the man's hand. His fingers closed naturally around the hilt.
"Do you have any wine?" The moment he grasped his sword, his mood visibly improved. Laughing heartily, he asked another question.
"Give him some wine." Seeing the sword back in his hand, the Venerables became even more cautious. Without taking their eyes off him, they ordered someone behind them.
A bottle of wine was quickly tossed over, and the man caught it effortlessly. With a slight shake of his hand, an invisible force blew the cork free.
Then he tilted his head back.
'Gulp... Gulp...'
Wine poured into his mouth as loud swallowing sounds echoed through the air.
Everyone watched in silence. Even while surrounded by countless wary eyes, he showed not the slightest discomfort. It was as though no one else in the world existed.
The bottle was emptied in moments. He tipped it upside down, letting the final drop slide down his throat, then let out a long, satisfied breath... followed by a contented belch.
"It's been a long time since I've had wine this satisfying. I'm pleased. Your world may be weak... but there are still a few things here that I rather like."
The thirty-six Venerables kept their eyes fixed on him, carefully watching his every movement.
"Can we leave now?" one of them asked.
The man raised an eyebrow and suddenly burst into laughter. The sword in his hand gave a slight tremble.
'Crack!'
It was too fast. So fast that no one could even see the strike. No one could comprehend how a sword could move at such speed.
In what seemed like a single instant, before the thirty-six Venerables could even react, every one of the thick chains, all one hundred and eight of them, was sliced apart with perfectly clean cuts.
The Venerables all gasped. They had still underestimated him. Even with that mysterious Heroic Power sealed away, he could still unleash such terrifying strength.
In that instant, all thirty-six Venerables became fully alert. Cold sweat appeared on their foreheads as they prepared themselves for a desperate battle.
"Why are you all so nervous?" The man stretched lazily as he slowly rose to his feet. "I just didn't like wearing those chains."
He wore a blue robe, and his long ponytail fluttered wildly in the wind. A single slanted lock of hair hung over his left eye. Everything about him radiated freedom, carefree and unrestrained. Yet at the same time, he carried an overwhelming confidence.
"Since you brought me to this world... and I survived... and you even gave me good wine... I'll tell you my name. I am the Gale Sword Hero... Yasuo. You'll remember that name for the rest of your lives."
His voice was calm and unhurried, yet every word carried an unquestionable conviction.
"Yasuo..." The thirty-six Venerables silently engraved that name into their memories.
"I agreed to do what your King asked," Yasuo said lightly. "So lead the way. But once it's over, I expect him to remove the Imprisonment seal inside my body and return my power. I hope he doesn't break his promise."
A breeze swept past, causing his robe and long black hair to dance in the wind, making him look even more carefree.
"His Majesty has never broken a promise. Then please come with us, Mr. Yasuo," the thirty-six Venerables replied respectfully.
Before this supreme expert, someone beyond anyone they had encountered in countless worlds, they showed both respect and caution, remaining on guard in case he suddenly made a move.
Yasuo nodded. Surrounded by the thirty-six Venerables, he stepped through the Realm Gate with them and disappeared from the Nie Kingdom.
"Who exactly was that man?"
"Even the thirty-six Venerables were afraid of him. I can't believe someone like that actually exists."
The people of the Nie Kingdom were stunned. But they didn't have much time to dwell on it, as the front lines were once again urging more troops to enter the target world.
"The fighting at the front must be intense. They're mobilizing the entire nation this time. I can't even imagine how fierce the war over there is."
"I heard it's still only the pre-war standoff. The real battle hasn't begun yet."
"And apparently, our enemy is another King."
"A King... That means another world."
"Unbelievable..."
The soldiers of the Nie Kingdom talked among themselves, all growing increasingly tense.
---
Inside the Soul Society of the Shinigami World...
The thirty-six Venerables emerged from the Realm Gate. A Shinigami from the Nie Kingdom immediately stepped forward to greet them. Judging by his spiritual pressure, he was a Captain-class expert, yet his attitude remained extremely respectful.
"Venerables, His Majesty has been waiting for you."
The Venerable at the front gave a slight nod. "Take us there."
"Yes!" the Shinigami answered immediately before turning to lead the way.
The Soul Society was no longer what it had once been. The entire Seireitei was filled with Shinigami from the Nie Kingdom, and even the Rukongai had been forcibly absorbed into their territory. Countless Shinigami, numbering in the millions, had poured into this world, firmly occupying it.
---
Inside the Captain-Commander's office...
"The Soul Society is already under my control, and the Human World has also been occupied by my army," King Chengdui said coldly. "That means the Nie Kingdom now controls two major territories in this world. Meanwhile, Qin's Nation only occupies Hueco Mundo. They're already at a territorial disadvantage."
Seated before him were the Shinigami who had submitted to his rule, along with the commanders of the Nie Kingdom's Shinigami legions. Among them were Zilin and Aizen.
Just then, a Shinigami announced from outside the door, "Your Majesty, the Venerables have arrived."
King Chengdui's eyes sharpened, and a smile spread across his face. "Let them in."
(End of Chapter)
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