All-Out War Breaks Out!

Outside the Seireitei...

Countless Quincy emerged from the gate spanning both worlds, gathering outside the four gates guarding the Seireitei...

And the man dressed in a black trench coat, standing at the head of the Quincy, was none other than the great emperor who commanded the Quincy's 'Lichtreich'—Yhwach!

"Your Majesty, everything is proceeding according to your plan!"

"After the four gates are breached, we will immediately ascertain the internal structure of the Seireitei..."

Beside Yhwach, a handsome young man bowed slightly to their supreme emperor, speaking respectfully.

"Hmm! Remember your mission!"

"Everything about you! Will become the 'cornerstone' for me to ascend to the highest position!"

Yhwach's expression was stern. He nodded lightly at the young man, then looked at the large number of followers before him and said in a deep voice.

"As Your Majesty commands!"

In an instant, the Quincy, dressed in white knight uniforms, almost simultaneously offered endless reverence to their supreme emperor.

The next second, arrows made of reishi rained down on the Seireitei's gates!

At the same time, inside the Gotei 1st Division barracks of the Seireitei.

"Captain-Commander, the enemy has appeared at Hakutōmon!"

"Captain-Commander, enemy figures have also been sighted at Seiryūmon, Kōryūmon, and Shūwamon! The Shinigami stationed at the gates have suffered heavy casualties..."

"Captain-Commander, the enemy claims to be subjects of the 'Lichtreich,' and they use bows and arrows made of reishi against us..."

"Captain-Commander, we have identified the enemy... The enemy are Quincy!"

One after another, Shinigami in their Shinigami Robes shuttled between the 1st Division and the other divisions. They reported the current situation in the Seireitei to Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, who held his 'blade,' and the captains of the various divisions.

"Thud!"

When Yamamoto heard that the enemy were indeed Quincy, he used his Zanpakuto as a cane, striking it heavily on the ground with a dull thud.

"Enough! We cannot allow those fellows to continue this destruction!"

Yamamoto's roar silenced the entire Gotei 1st Division.

Compared to a thousand years later, when Yamamoto always stayed in the 1st Division, serving as a 'symbol of protection' to stabilize the morale of the Gotei 13.

The current Yamamoto was more uninhibited and short-tempered. In Yamamoto's view, rather than staying in the 1st Division to stabilize morale, it was better to take the initiative and attack...

And coincidentally, the captains of the other divisions of the Gotei 13 thought the same. In an instant, the Shinigami of each division were ready to depart under their captains' orders!

Just as Yhwach would say in later generations, the current Seireitei was less a guard force protecting the Seireitei and more a group of assassins acting under the guise of protection!

"Everyone, follow me to battle! The total war has begun!"

As Yamamoto spoke, his Spiritual Pressure already blazed like raging flames. His 'Ryujin Jakka' was already thirsting for battle; only the enemy's blood could quench the burning flames.

"Yes, sir!"

At Yamamoto's command, all the Shinigami of the vast 1st Division drew their Zanpakuto from their waists and uniformly followed Yamamoto Genryusai, rushing out of the 1st Division barracks and heading to the battlefield. In an instant, a flame-like Spiritual Pressure burned on the battlefield...

Seireitei's four gates... near Shūwamon.

With the massive advance of the Quincy, this area had already become a scene of ruins...

Countless, seemingly endless Quincy poured continuously through the wide-open Shūwamon.

Although Araki had given Yamamoto an early warning months ago, prompting Yamamoto to dispatch a large number of Gotei 13 Shinigami to guard the four gates of the Seireitei, they were still no match for the overwhelming, rain-like barrage of reishi arrows...

Each volley of arrows was like a 'scythe of death,' reaping the lives of the Gotei 13 Shinigami one by one. No matter how fearless the Gotei 13 Shinigami were, they could only continuously retreat in the face of the endless reishi arrows!

"Weak, truly too weak..."

"These so-called Soul Reapers are just targets for us Quincy!"

"I really don't know what His Majesty is worried about? Does he think that we, the valiant Quincy, would be defeated by these incompetent Soul Reapers? Don't be ridiculous..."

"Instead of hunting this trash calling themselves 'Soul Reapers,' I'd rather go hunt Menos Grande in Hueco Mundo!"

A member of the Sternritter, mixed among the ordinary Quincy, continuously drew his bow and released 'Heilig Pfeil,' shooting at the 'stubborn' Soul Reaper Shinigami...

Each arrow from this Sternritter member took the life of a Gotei 13 Shinigami, not a single arrow missed! This caused him to become arrogant, completely forgetting the words of their great 'Majesty' before they departed.

"Retreat, everyone retreat! The enemy's firepower is too strong. We must temporarily avoid their onslaught and then make new plans!"

The Soul Reapers defending Shūwamon were 'severely damaged' and 'in disarray' from the continuous arrow barrages. Not only were they severely wounded, but their Spiritual Pressure was also insufficient for them to continue fighting. At this moment, only temporary retreat offered them hope of survival.

"Trying to run?!"

Seeing some Soul Reapers attempting to retreat, the Sternritter member immediately drew his bow, and an arrow made of reishi instantly shot from his hand.

However, this arrow did not pierce the chests of the fleeing Soul Reapers; instead, it shot through the knee of a Soul Reaper who was sprinting madly from behind...

"Ah!"

Accompanied by a piercing scream! The Soul Reaper immediately fell to the ground.

"Sugiki Shinigami!"

The group of Soul Reapers retreating frantically heard the scream and immediately turned to look. They nervously called out as they saw their fallen comrade.

"Idiots, don't stop! I'm a goner, but you absolutely must return to your respective divisions and report these guys' abilities to your captains…"

The squad member named Sugiki collapsed without surprise after a Sternritter's arrow struck his leg. He watched the copious amounts of blood steadily seep from his torn trousers, knowing in his heart that he wouldn't make it.

Once he realized he was beyond saving, Sugiki quickly made a decision: he would use his remaining strength to give the squad members from other divisions a chance to return to their own.

"But Squad Member Sugiki, we…"

The Soul Reaper squad members surrounding Sugiki still had hesitation in their eyes. On one hand, they knew what Sugiki said was right—they needed to return to their divisions and report to their captains. On the other hand, they couldn't stand by and watch a familiar comrade get injured without helping.

"Enough with the nonsense!"

Just as the Soul Reaper squad members hesitated for a moment, two more Spirit Arrows shot towards them.

"Burn! Hidanmaru!"

Before the Spirit Arrows could get close, Sugiki had already released his Zanpakuto, unleashing fierce flames to block the arrows.

"Go…"

Leaving just those two words, Sugiki propped himself up on one leg, gripping his released Zanpakuto, and charged towards the distant Quincy.

"Sugiki…"

Those few Soul Reaper squad members watched Sugiki bravely advance, their eyes burning red.

"Go! Don't let Squad Member Sugiki sacrifice himself in vain."

However, before they could say more, the Seated Officer among the squad members had already pulled everyone forward, running.

The Seated Officer knew well that Sugiki, in his current state, absolutely couldn't defeat that powerful Quincy. Sugiki's choice to turn and charge forward was simply to use his own death to allow his teammates to continue onward without any burdens.

"We understand!"

Although the scene before them was incredibly tragic…

Even though everyone felt terrible, retreating was their only option. For these ordinary squad members, it was their only hope of survival.