Dead silence.
As the video's lens was dyed with blood, Silbern fell quiet, save for the sound of gasps and Cang Du's severed head rolling on the cold floor.
"This… how is this possible?!"
Cang Du's face turned black and purple, as if force-fed poison. His lips trembled, pointing at the bloody screen, roaring in disbelief. "How could you break my ability so easily?!"
"Impossible? That's just your naive thinking," Haschwalth's icy voice came from the platform. "My ability, The Balance, inflicts misfortune directly through my strikes. Once misfortune taints you, everything becomes fragile!"
"Like now…"
Gripping his sword, Haschwalth descended the platform, pointing the blade at Cang Du's head. "As the highest-ranking Sternritter, your provocation and insolence give me the right to execute you on the spot!"
With confident strides, Haschwalth seemed to transform into a righteous enforcer, ready to purge the Wandenreich of traitors with his holy sword.
"Haschwalth, don't get too cocky!" Cang Du snapped, his mind clearing as fear replaced his bravado. "Don't forget His Majesty's strict orders—no fighting in the inner halls! Have you forgotten?!"
He roared desperately, trying to use Yhwach's decree as a shield.
But—
"His Majesty said that while he slumbers, I wield the empire's authority in his place," Haschwalth replied coldly.
Without further words, just as in the video, he raised his hand, activated his Sternritter ability, and swung his star-shaped sword.
"No…"
Under Cang Du's despairing, terrified gaze, the Reishi-wrapped blade grew larger in his eyes.
In the end, he followed his future fate. His steel-hardened head was sliced from his neck, rolling like a bowling ball across the icy floor.
"Listen well…"
Haschwalth shook the blood from his sword, scanning the room with an expressionless warning:
"This is a critical time. Anyone daring to rebel will be executed without mercy on His Majesty's behalf!"
His cold voice landed, and no one dared object. Guards swiftly removed Cang Du's body, as if nothing had happened.
"Haschwalth… you've changed completely…"
Among the crowd, Bazz-B frowned, his eyes under his mohawk flashing with deep disappointment.
His childhood friend had become a stranger, betraying their original purpose for joining the Wandenreich.
Just then, the interrupted ranking resumed, and the next scene shocked everyone again.
"Stop, Bazz-B…"
"No matter how much we fight, it's of no use to His Majesty. And you can't defeat me…" Haschwalth's cold, arrogant voice echoed.
The camera shifted to a blazing battlefield, flames crackling. Haschwalth, his blond hair dancing, stood with a blood-soaked sword, staring coldly ahead, repeating his actions from the Cang Du fight.
"?!"
"No way! Again?!"
"This time it's Bazz-B rebelling?!"
The Quincies were dumbfounded, turning to stare at Bazz-B nearby.
What's going on?! First Cang Du, now Bazz-B? Are all pure-blood Quincies born traitors? Why do we keep rebelling in the future?!
"Huh?"
"It sounds like I've been exposed?!"
Bazz-B was stunned. His lifelong goal in joining the Wandenreich was to kill Yhwach, who destroyed his hometown. But he'd bided his time for centuries, never acting without certainty.
He never imagined he'd end up clashing with Haschwalth!
Sure enough, the camera revealed a bloodied, heavily injured Bazz-B, confirming his rebellion.
The Sternritter's morale shattered completely.
"What the hell?!"
"It's really a fight to the death!"
"Is the Wandenreich doomed to split apart?"
Most Quincies were lost, unable to comprehend the repeated infighting. Was someone orchestrating this, or was there a traitor among Haschwalth or Bazz-B?
Suspicious gazes turned to Haschwalth. After all, the footage came from the future, and no one could predict what had happened.
Even the seemingly loyal Haschwalth could be a traitor in the future!
"…"
Haschwalth's face darkened, a spark of rage in his blue eyes. He felt the wary, guarded stares from all sides, marking him as the suspected traitor.
---
Meanwhile, in the Second Division's barracks:
"Huh?"
"Captain, I don't recall any records of the Punishment Force sending spies to the Quincies. Did I miss something?" Ōmaeda Marechiyo scratched his head, confused.
"What do you mean?" Soi Fon frowned. "Ōmaeda, are you suggesting Yhwach's personal aide is a Gotei 13 spy?"
"Why not?" Ōmaeda shrugged, as if it were obvious. "If he's not a traitor, why's he killing his own comrades?"
"First that Iron guy, and now this flame kid! Their strength surpasses regular captain-level Shinigami. They're top-tier assets!"
He grew more convinced. "Killing such talent like that? If he's not a spy, who is?!"
"…"
Soi Fon's lips twitched. She wanted to argue but found his logic oddly compelling.
Two swift kills, eliminating two captain-level assets! Haschwalth was practically handing the Shinigami a gift!
In the video, Haschwalth and Bazz-B clashed in a life-or-death duel. In the end, with his overwhelming power, Haschwalth coldly sliced Bazz-B in half, cementing his "traitor" status.
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