Several weeks ago, in the World of the Living.
Four Quincy wearing white cloaks hovered above a Shinigami outpost.
"This is the place. The Shinigami outpost for this region."
The speaker was a black-haired Quincy wearing gold-rimmed glasses.
"So we just need to wipe them all out, right, Instructor Quilge?"
A blond boy in a hooded cloak had his hands in his pockets, looking completely relaxed.
Behind him stood two other Quincies—one was a pink-haired old man whose eyes darted wildly in different directions with no clear focus, and the other a buzz-cut youth with glasses.
"That's right. We're here to erase this Shinigami outpost," said Quilge Opie, adjusting his hair beneath his hat. "They've even got a Reishi barrier… but with your help, this will be simple, Gremmy."
Quilge Opie, a high-ranking instructor in the Wandenreich, was also one of the elite members of the Sternritter.
Next to him stood Gremmy Thoumeaux, another Sternritter, so dangerous even Jugram Haschwalth was wary of him.
"Let's get started," Gremmy said casually, hands still in his pockets.
"Need the barrier broken?" The buzz-cut youth stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "This is my specialty."
In recent years, Quincies in the World of the Living had grown far more active than before.
To defend against these attacks, Shinigami had established protective Reishi barriers around their outposts.
The buzz-cut youth flew above the barrier, raising one hand toward it while pulling out a black feathered dart with the other.
Pshh— He stabbed the dart into the back of his hand.
In the next moment, the surrounding Reishi began converging toward the wound—even the Reishi from the barrier was drawn in.
A sinister grin spread across his face as he deepened the wound, increasing the absorption rate.
Cracks began appearing across the barrier and rapidly spread outward.
Within ten seconds, the Reishi barrier collapsed entirely and dispersed into the air.
"Enemy attack!!!"
A furious roar came from within the Shinigami outpost.
"Incredible regeneration… even pulled Reishi from the barrier itself!" Quilge pulled out a handkerchief and removed his glasses to wipe them. "Gremmy… your imagination is truly something."
"Huh? That was just a random idea." Gremmy shrugged lazily.
Gremmy had used his imagination-based power to create both the buzz-cut youth and the pink-haired old man.
And his imagined creations weren't just visual—they had powers of their own.
"The slaughter's begun," Quilge said calmly, putting his glasses back on as he watched the outpost.
Behind him, the pink-haired old man had disappeared at some point.
The buzz-cut youth flew into the outpost, launching volleys of black feathered darts like rain.
"Aaaah—" Screams of agony echoed endlessly.
"Stop!" shouted the only seated officer in the outpost, rushing forward.
"You think just saying that will stop me?" the buzz-cut youth sneered and waved his hand, launching another round of black feathered darts at the Shinigami officer.
"Bakudō #39: Enkōsen!"
A circular shield appeared in front of the officer, blocking the darts.
But before he could breathe a sigh of relief, a blade of dense Reishi pierced through his chest from behind.
"Wha…?!"
Horrified, the officer turned his head and saw a pink-haired old man standing behind him—he had appeared without a trace.
The officer hadn't sensed his Reiatsu at all. It was as if the man had materialized from thin air.
"Die."
The buzz-cut youth raised his hand again, and countless black darts rained down on the officer.
Thwip, thwip, thwip—
The Shinigami's body was riddled with darts as he fell to the ground.
"Your power really is useful. He didn't even notice you, Guenael."
The buzz-cut youth chuckled.
Guenael Lee possessed the ability to erase his own existence.
His enemies couldn't see him, couldn't sense him, and even if they tried to remember him, they couldn't.
A terrifying ability for ambushes.
Guenael didn't reply—he simply vanished again.
Screams continued echoing throughout the outpost.
No one inside could detect Guenael. To them, it was as if death itself had descended—silent, invisible, and inevitable.
Moments later, the buzz-cut youth and pink-haired old man returned to the others.
"Still one left."
Quilge formed a Reiatsu Blade and hurled it toward a nearby wooden cabin.
Thud— Inside, a wounded and unconscious Shinigami was instantly silenced.
"Ugh… his Reiatsu was too faint. I didn't even notice him," the buzz-cut youth said regretfully.
Though Guenael and the buzz-cut youth were both products of Gremmy's imagination, they had their own independent wills.
"So cruel, killing even the wounded… Instructor Quilge," Gremmy muttered. But his tone was flat, his expression unchanging, still as lazy as ever.
"That's the best way to provoke the Shinigami," Quilge said plainly. "Our mission is to start a war."
"I don't get it. Most of the Quincies in the World of the Living were foot soldiers sent out twenty years ago, right?" The buzz-cut youth frowned. "If we do this, aren't we pushing them into certain death?"
Twenty years ago, the Quincy King, Yhwach, had briefly awakened and sent most of his soldiers into the World of the Living to reproduce and spread their numbers.
Though these foot soldiers had received power from Yhwach, they were still far weaker than the Sternritter elites.
There was no way they could withstand a full counterattack from the Shinigami.
And from what the youth had heard, the Wandenreich wasn't even prepared to declare war on Soul Society yet.
If the Shinigami launched a purge, the Quincies in the Living World wouldn't last long.
"Silence is golden," Quilge replied coolly. "As soldiers, our only duty is to obey His Majesty's orders."
Not long ago, the slumbering King of the Quincies had awakened once again.
Upon waking, he issued a new command: Go to the Living World and provoke war with the Shinigami.
As one of His Majesty's most loyal followers and a core member of the Sternritter, Quilge understood the intent behind this order.
His Majesty was ready to reclaim the power he had once dispersed.
The Quincies in the Living World, having shifted from pure Reishi forms to human Reiatsu vessels, had multiplied rapidly.
After twenty years of reproduction and growth, their accumulated energy was now enough to fully awaken the slumbering King.
"His Majesty will awaken early…"
Excitement burned in Quilge's mind.
He had always believed that the great King of the Quincies would one day lead them to a new world—one ruled by Quincies.
And even if it cost him his life, he would gladly offer it for that future.
"Let's go. Time to eliminate the next outpost."
Quilge reached out. The air—supposedly intangible—tore open like fabric.
Several weeks later.
In Seireitei, the Shinigami were making preparations for battle.
This campaign's main force came from Squads 5, 7, and 10, each deploying over half of their personnel.
Squads 3, 4, 9, and 12 also dispatched support units.
According to intel from the Onmitsukidō, the Quincies' settlements were scattered.
Each Squad would act independently.
Yamamoto appointed Nanatsuki as supreme commander—he would oversee the entire operation.
Nanatsuki began assigning duties:
"The Onmitsukidō has located several Quincy settlements.
Kyoto, Nara, the Northern Sea, and Naruki all show large-scale activity.
Captain Love Aikawa, Captain Shihoin, you'll handle the Kyoto and Nara fronts.
Vice-Captain Aizen and Vice-Captain Shiba, cover the Northern Sea.
I'll handle Naruki.
Vice-Captain Azashiro, assist Squad 4 with medical support and battlefield evacuations."
"Understood!" the crowd responded.
Only Aikawa, Yoruichi, and Nanatsuki would lead combat directly.
Unohana Retsu was in charge of logistics for this campaign.
Captains Kyōraku, Ukitake, and Kuyashiki remained in Seireitei on standby in case reinforcements were needed.
The Shinigami entered the Senkaimon and deployed to the World of the Living.
Thanks to the Senkaimon and the Dangai, they could quickly reinforce different locations.
Nanatsuki wasn't worried about splitting forces—he had placed Captain-level combatants at each location.
If strong enemies appeared, they could hold out long enough for backup to arrive.
Aizen Sōsuke and Shiba Isshin arrived at the Northern Sea.
"What's the plan?"
Hirako Shinji scanned the unfamiliar terrain. Though he'd been to the Living World before, this area was new to him.
"There's no sea like this in Soul Society."
He seemed relaxed—with their combined strength, they could handle most threats.
"True." Isshin nodded. "The Living World does have more varied landscapes."
"Still, I think we should settle on a proper strategy first," Aizen said seriously. Although Onmitsukidō had already scouted the settlement, he wasn't about to get careless.
"According to the intel, there are eight Quincy with seated-officer-level Reiatsu here," Isshin added. "Let's take out the leaders first—cut off the head."
"Sounds good," Shinji agreed.
Aizen also nodded. "I'll go with Isshin and flank their elites. Shinji, take Squad 5 and Squad 10 and launch a frontal attack."
"Wait, what?!" Shinji's eye twitched. "Why do I get the small fry?!"
"Third Seat Hirako, this is our decision," Aizen replied, deliberately emphasizing "Third Seat."
Shinji scowled but didn't argue further.
He was outranked—Aizen and Isshin were both Vice-Captains.
"Come on, Isshin. Let's deal with the heavy hitters." Aizen smirked.
"You bastard!" Shinji rolled his eyes. "Just wait—once I'm Captain, I'll make you take orders!"
Once he attained Bankai and became Captain of Squad 5, he'd turn the tables.
Aizen and Isshin headed toward the rear of the Quincy settlement, where stronger Reiatsu had been detected.
Halfway there, Aizen suddenly stopped Isshin.
"What is it?"
Isshin turned, puzzled, and saw Aizen's face had grown serious.
"There's strong Quincy presence in those seaside woods. Let's check it out."
Aizen pulled out his Denreishinki and contacted Shinji.
"Shinji, change of plans. I found enemies on the other side. Isshin and I will investigate. You handle the settlement."
Shinji's voice came through: "Hah… leave it to me. When it counts, I'm the one you rely on, huh, Sōsuke?"
"Your spiritual sense is that sharp?" Isshin glanced toward the forest, though he himself didn't sense anything.
"Follow me. They could be powerful. Be ready to call Sensei for backup."
Aizen signaled Isshin forward.
In the woods by the sea stood a small shrine.
Inside was a stone idol about a dozen centimeters tall.
Its features were odd—cloaked in a hood, the face completely obscured.
Normally, no one would build a shrine with such vague features—it could lead to mistaken worship.
Unless… that was exactly how this deity presented itself.
Haschwalth, the leader of the Sternritter, stood before the shrine and bowed.
Behind him stood a line of white-cloaked Sternritter members.
They too bowed.
"Pernida-sama..."
"The Quincy King, Yhwach, has sent us to deliver his greetings."
A strange, garbled voice responded from the idol.
The Sternritter exchanged confused glances. None of them understood the speech.
Many of them didn't even know why they had to honor this strange, eerie being.
But this was His Majesty's will—and Haschwalth's command—so they obeyed.
Haschwalth continued:
"His Majesty Yhwach will lead us to create a world for Quincies."
"Your power is essential for fulfilling that vision."
"We have come to invite you… to the Wandenreich."