Compared to Hueco Mundo and the Seireitei, the atmosphere in Silbern was equally grim. The opulent palace was silent, save for the sound of breathing.
"Everyone… what do you think of that scene?"
At the end of the hall, Haschwalth, with his golden hair and blue eyes, cloaked in a white cape bearing a five-star emblem, spoke with a calm, detached tone. As the highest-ranking Sternritter, he maintained order in Silbern while Yhwach slumbered.
The events in Hueco Mundo and the Soul Society had also played out in the shadow realm. Through the screen, the Wandenreich's pure-blood Quincy had watched the previous rankings. When Shinigami captains like Urahara, Byakuya, and Hitsugaya appeared, they scoffed with disdain, treating the videos as entertainment.
Until… Gremmy Thoumeaux's appearance.
The Sternritter's attitude shifted dramatically.
"Though these are just future fragments, and Gremmy hasn't been to the Soul Society—still confined by His Majesty—his ranking indirectly exposes our existence," said Liltotto Barro, the Sternritter's Guard Captain, frowning from the left staircase.
Undeniably, any Sternritter ranking was a point of pride. But their thousand-year plan to wage war, invade the Soul Society, and exact revenge on the Gotei 13 was a secret known only to pure-blood Quincy. Its premature exposure was Liltotto's greatest concern. If their blood war plan leaked, their millennium of effort would be for naught.
"Exactly," nodded Robert Accutrone, an elderly Quincy, worry etched on his face. "Gremmy's ranking isn't good news. The outside world now knows of the Sternritter's existence."
Haschwalth remained silent. Though Yhwach had regained his heartbeat and consciousness after nine hundred years, he still needed time to return to his peak. The Sternritter's exposure at this critical juncture was a disaster for the Wandenreich.
But where there are people, there are factions. Some Sternritter held opposing views.
"Tch, what's there to discuss?" scoffed Valkyrie, a burly guard-like figure, hefting his Sword of Hope. "Isn't our goal to destroy the Soul Society and the Gotei 13? We should be ecstatic!"
As the heart of the Soul King, endowed with the Schrift "M" for Miracle, Valkyrie's immense power and miraculous abilities gave him significant influence. He was unfazed by the exposure, as arrogant as ever.
"I agree with Valkyrie," said Bazz-B, his mohawk glowing purple-red, exuding a fiery aura. "This is a ranking of the strong. Of course, the Sternritter will shine. What's there to worry about?"
"Exactly! Not just imagination—other Schrifts will showcase their own immense power," added Cang Du, his cold eyes glinting.
"Let the world witness the might of the pure-blood Quincy!"
---
Fourth Division
As the video paused, the atmosphere in the squad room returned to normal. Before a wooden tea table, Unohana Retsu frowned, her expression serious as she stared at the screen, memories long buried seeming to stir.
Noticing her captain's rare solemnity, Torayuki Yongyin hesitated but spoke softly, "Captain, is something wrong? Did you recall something?"
"…"
Unohana paused, her complex gaze softening as she nodded. "The Sternritter… they're likely tied to the war from a thousand years ago."
"The Thousand-Year War?" Yongyin asked, puzzled.
Though a vice-captain and a captain-level Shinigami, Yongyin had only been with the Gotei 13 for two hundred years. She knew nothing of the Soul Society's ancient secrets.
"It's a long story—a brutal war we'd rather forget," Unohana said, her eyes dimming as she recalled the bloodshed. Back then, as the first Kenpachi, she was the Soul Society's greatest demon, slaughtering countless Quincy.
Now, transformed into a healer, the resurgence of those memories stirred her calm heart.
"If they're back, shouldn't we act now to stop them?" Yongyin shivered, recalling the massive meteor.
"With the future revealed, the Captain-Commander won't sit idly by," Unohana nodded. Given his hatred for the Quincy, he'd surely take action to prevent this future.
Just then, the paused video resumed, accompanied by familiar music and new subtitles:
NO.11
The King of Flat Slashes, Kenpachi Zaraki
The sudden text drew their attention.
"Kenpachi Zaraki?!"
Unohana was surprised. "I didn't expect Captain Zaraki to rank above the visionary!"
"Exactly… didn't the last ranking show him buried under that disaster?" Yongyin wondered, recalling the meteor's impact.
"Wait…" Unohana's eyes widened. "What if Captain Zaraki didn't die in that battle? What if… he turned the tables?"
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