Then, I'll Keep Moving Forward!

Under Haschwalth's increasingly shocked gaze, a gigantic arrow materialized out of thin air—

"The Great Sage Bow!"

"Not good!"

Haschwalth was engulfed in the torrent of Reishi before he could react...

Time passed slowly, and the blond youth had been reduced to his normal form. His powerful Reversal [Perfected State] had been utterly ineffective. Or rather, its only effect was to make him an even more resilient target... truly shameful!

This isn't a battle, it's more like an academy-style training session!

The Great Sage Bow, Sanctuary Hymn, with Outer Shell Blood-Quenching Armor, Reishi Compressed Flames, and... [Altar of Usurpation]!

This is a secret technique that only Yhwach possesses; all other Quincy simply have a degraded version of the Star Seal!

If the previous moves had only shaken Haschwalth somewhat, then Iori's final display of "Altar of Usurpation" completely shattered Haschwalth's psychological defenses—even though he had nothing left to lose.

The person before me is definitely Yhwach, yet he possesses the abilities of Quincy of the highest rank...

Considering the existence of a technology called "Hollowfication" that allows Shinigami to break through boundaries and gain Hollow powers, could we, from another perspective, merge the powers of Shinigami and Quincy?

According to intelligence, Iori Aizen and the Hollowfication Saitō Fuyōfushi are closely related. Now it seems that the "Hollowfication" technology may have been related to Iori from the beginning, and Saitō Fuyōfushi was merely a byproduct of it.

Seireitei also misjudged this person; he was not as honest and docile as he appeared!

The answer is now obvious.

The person before me has obtained the Gigai of the King of the Quincy and completed the experiment of merging the Shinigami, Hollow, Quincy into one!

"Monster! Cough, cough cough!!!"

Haschwalth knelt on one knee once again, forced to do so to keep his body from collapsing due to his severe injuries; he could barely even condense Reishi Light Sword anymore.

"Your ambition... is to become the Lord of the Three Realms?"

The blond youth struggled to lift his head, looking at Iori who seemed like a god descending to earth, without feeling any resentment or anger.

Because the gap is too big!

First, there's the difference in strength. In terms of spiritual pressure, technique, and mentality, Haschwalth is at a disadvantage in almost every aspect, and there's not a single one that he can compare to Iori.

Secondly, there's the issue of compatibility. His [World Adjustment] is an extremely powerful force capable of manipulating cause and effect, but it seemed to fail when facing Iori, and he was practically invisible from beginning to end.

The Vandenreich Letter B was suppressed by some higher power!

What he didn't know was that Iori possessed two buffs: [Presence Power] and [Recognition Power]. The effect of the Vandenreich Letter B was to target "changes in the state of things," while these two buffs were precisely for "confirming the state of things." They could even inscribe the true name and state information into the Boundary Record Band, making them perfectly counteract each other.

For the same reason, Hyōsube Ichibē's attempt to weaken Iori by "changing his name" is also a pipe dream.

In reality, if Iori wanted to kill Haschwalth, she wouldn't need to show so many moves, and the blond youth wouldn't have lasted this long anyway.

The reason he was able to survive after his Perfected State was shattered was because Iori deliberately used "Reishi aggregation" to maintain the integrity of his body— Iori gave him this life!

This did indeed intimidate Haschwalth, and the "King's right-hand man" completely lost his fighting spirit.

"Hmm, I didn't expect this..."

Haschwalth was breathing heavily. What had happened today was too bizarre. He felt like he was in a dream, but even if he didn't want to believe it, he had to admit it.

Do you share the same goals as His Majesty?

"Your imagination is quite rich, but I am not so far from inheriting Yhwach's dream. I can tell you very clearly that I have no interest in ruling the Three Worlds, nor do I want to turn the world back to a state of chaos."

Iori said calmly, "I cherish this place and want to protect the people who are important to me, so I am always very careful, especially in this world."

"This world?"

Haschwalth gave Iori a long look.

"Could it be..."

"Yes, my vision is much broader than yours, and my future is not limited to the narrow fishbowl of the Three Worlds."

"Fish, fish tank?"

Haschwalth suddenly found it utterly absurd that the Three Worlds, which others fought to the death for, were merely ornaments in Iori's eyes?

"That's right, the fish tank, or the purification system is broken, it'll turn into a stinking cesspool sooner or later."

Iori said it as if he were joking.

But soon he felt an "unpleasant" gaze fall upon him from above, making him feel embarrassed.

"I can't see things that far away... but if we're going to protect the Three Worlds, wouldn't it be better to bury the Quincy clan in darkness? To you Shinigami, and even to the entire Three Worlds, the Quincy are destroyers, aren't they?"

Haschwalth had given up struggling and asked weakly, "With such great power, taking over the Seireitei would be a piece of cake. Then, all we have to do is wipe out all the Quincy hiding in this world, and wouldn't the Three Worlds be at peace forever?"

"To completely exterminate you? Why would you do that?"

Iori scoffed. "The Quincy threaten the peace of the Three Worlds? Perhaps, but to say that you are my greatest threat is perhaps too much boasting."

Do you really think that besides King Yhwach, the Quincy have any power that can threaten me, or the Soul Society?

"..."

Haschwalth was speechless for a moment.

"The Quincy's abilities are passed down through bloodlines. To prevent this group from ever appearing again, their bloodline must be severed. But the problem is that there are many mixed-blood Quincy in the World of the Living who have never invaded the Soul Society and have no intention of disrupting the balance of the Three Worlds."

If we want to eliminate future troubles, should we kill women, children, and the elderly?

It was obvious that Iori would never do such a thing, so he spoke with a sarcastic tone.

In the past, he wasn't the ruler; he could only follow the crowd and participate in the Quincy War, and the Holy Son died in his arms... But now he can chat and laugh with the Soul King. If he still can't decide the direction of the world with his own will, then what kind of person is he?!

Indeed, given the nature of Quincy's profession, the souls they kill do not enter the cycle of reincarnation but are completely annihilated. This accumulation of souls eventually affects the Soul Balance within the Three Worlds.

But don't forget that this ability is inherited through bloodline, which means that unless you deliberately maintain your pure bloodline, you will eventually blend into the crowd.

Moreover, Quincy are essentially a group of humans with Yhwach blood flowing through their veins. They do not need to eliminate Hollows or souls to ensure their survival; they can live simply by eating and drinking like ordinary people.

—As long as there are "laws" to constrain them, the problem of Quincy can be perfectly solved; there is no such thing as Trolley Problem.

(Actually, Yhwach is the "trolley" in this question, but he's already been blown up by Iori with one punch.)

"... You mean to say that as long as the Quincy submit to you, they can live?"

Haschwalth, considering Iori's series of actions, naturally came to this conclusion.

First, lure out the strongest Quincy, then demonstrate your power and Quincy skills to subdue them before recruiting other members, and finally bring this race under your control.

—That makes perfect sense!

The only problem is... given Iori's combat strength, her subordinates seem to be more of a burden than a necessity.

Iori smiled slightly, "Think what you want, but if you swear allegiance to me, you can indeed gain your freedom."

"... His Majesty has disappeared from this world, and I feel no more joy or sorrow."

Haschwalth's convictions have crumbled, and he is now in a state where he doesn't care about life or death.

"Other Quincy may submit to you, but for me, there is no freedom... Kill me!"

"You look utterly devastated. It seems Yhwach's death has been a huge blow to you?"

"..."

Haschwalth remained silent, adopting a tacit attitude.

"But what kind of existence does Yhwach hold for you?"

Iori asked, "If it were just your superior and clan leader, you should be happy that he died, shouldn't you?"

"No... Your Majesty is my support... Your Majesty is my support. As long as Your Majesty is here, I have nothing to be confused about."

Haschwalth closed his eyes. "Conversely, if His Majesty ceases to exist, my life loses its meaning..."

"How ridiculous! A person's value doesn't disappear because of something like this!"

Incredibly, even though it was Iori's first time talking to Haschwalth, the blond youth had a strange feeling of familiarity—he had also hallucinated Iori as Yhwach more than once.

Furthermore, the words spoken by Iori seemed to possess a kind of True Magic, particularly capable of shaking his mind.

"Since you don't have a goal, I'll give you one:"

The weak follow the strong, soldiers follow generals, and those who are lost follow those with clear goals—that's me!

"Hmm!"

Haschwalth's eyes widened.

Iori smiled and said, "You don't need to answer or worry about it. Even if you still have some loyalty to Yhwach, it doesn't matter. You were forced to submit to me by force to protect your people—does that make you feel better?"

"Um, I..."

"Don't think about anything, just leave the rest to me."

Iori whispered in his ear, "If you don't have your own goals, then consider it as me imposing my own desires on you."

"I, I..."

Haschwalth was breathing rapidly and was under immense mental strain.

I am a flawed person—that's what he thought.

But it didn't matter. Even knowing that he was a flawed person, Haschwalth didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

Everyone has physical or mental defects. There is no truly perfect person. As long as one can find something to rely on in the long, empty journey of life, one will not lose one's way.

Perhaps it was precisely because he could point the way for those with disabilities and make their lives less confusing that Yhwach became a "king".

Neither kindness nor wisdom was required; the man was simply leading everyone forward... even if it was for his own selfish desires, yet it made people want to follow him.

Wasn't I attracted to people like that back then?

Now, another source of spiritual sustenance has been placed before me...

Admit it, Haschwalth!

You have never been a loyal subject; you have only ever been a tool willingly controlled by the powerful!

Self-respect, loyalty, chivalry... all abandoned, recalling one's most primal instincts—

Choose!

Iori tossed something that landed in front of Haschwalth: "Submit to me, or die here?"

"... What, what is this?"

Haschwalth picked it up, his trembling hands wiping away the dust to reveal the black blade.

—This is Yhwach's Zanpakuto!

What should we do?

Past events flashed through his mind, and suddenly, as if some switch had been flipped, Haschwalth revealed a broken smile.

"Hahaha!

"Of course, it's to swear allegiance to you!"

Snap!

Haschwalth broke the black saber, and the blond Quincy knelt down before Iori.

"Hahahaha... Interesting! Then so be it, the Quincy can live on!"

At the same time, in the vast emptiness of the sky, a certain being's gaze revealed a hint of relief.

Quincy are a race born with original sin, but the world is never black and white. A complete cycle needs "destroyers".

"Come with me, Haschwalth. From now on, you will never be lost again—just follow behind me!"

Chapter 506 So, I will continue on my way!

Iori had his reasons for preserving the Quincy lineage; it wasn't simply to recruit subordinates.

First, this was the Soul King's personal wish. He had a strange sympathy and affection for the Quincy, and although he believed their path was wrong, he did not want this race to completely disappear from the world.

Moreover, the "Quincy power" is closer to the power of the Spirit King attributes than the Grim Reaper's, and it might be used in the future when the problem of Hell is solved.

Secondly, the existence of the Quincy also has certain benefits for the Soul Society (strictly speaking, the Seireitei).

It should be noted that the Seireitei has never been a clean and honest place; rather, it is a den of iniquity and corruption. If it weren't for its righteous cause of maintaining order in the Three Worlds, it might not even appear as a "righteous" place in the manga.

In reality, organizations like the Thirteen Court Guard Squads and forces like the Seireitei are very rare in shonen manga like Bleach, Naruto, One Piece Seireitei Piece.