Bleach: From the moment I was invited by Squad Zero

Chapter 72 Quincy

First Division barracks, Captain-Commander's office.

The atmosphere was heavy, and the room was filled with a sense of impending doom.

Vice Captain Chojiro stood respectfully with his hands at his sides, fine beads of sweat glistening on his forehead, and handed the report, which had just been delivered urgently through a special channel, to Captain-Commander Yamamoto.

After reviewing the report, Captain-Commander Yamamoto slowly opened his eyes, which seemed to contain molten lava.

The paper made a very slight rustling sound in his hands, and Chojiro could even feel it as the Captain-Commander's gaze moved.

The indoor temperature was rising silently, and the spiritual pressure in the air was becoming increasingly heavy and scorching, as if a volcano about to erupt was being forcibly suppressed.

The report was short, but the information was shocking: two veteran expeditionary force members were sniped remotely by an unknown entity while patrolling Hueco Mundo.

The blow was fatal, and the residual spiritual energy in the wound, upon preliminary testing, closely matched the characteristics of the "Quinshi" power as recorded in the annals.

There were no signs of intense fighting at the scene, suggesting that the attackers were far more skilled than ordinary team members and possessed extremely long-range precision strike capabilities. Their motives for the attack are unknown, and their whereabouts remain a mystery.

"Queensmen—" Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni slowly put down the report, his aged voice echoing in the room, carrying a heavy weight that seemed to have traversed a long period of time.

He raised his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through the thick walls, landing on the blood-soaked battlefield of a thousand years ago.

His brows furrowed deeply.

This is no ordinary event. The term "Queen" itself holds a special place in the hearts of the Soul Society's higher-ups, especially those who lived through that era.

This represents a tragic history that can never be truly forgotten, a life-or-death struggle concerning the survival of the race.

"The remnants of the Quincy—have appeared in Hueco Mundo—" Yamamoto muttered to himself. "Hueco Mundo has a harsh environment and chaotic spiritual energy; it's not an ideal area for the Quincy to operate in. Is their appearance there a coincidence? Are they just wandering around? Or—has it become their new lair?"

Doubts clung to his heart like vines, if Hueco Mundo had truly become the stronghold where the remnants of the Quincy lay dormant or even grew stronger.

For the Soul Society, that was tantamount to planting a bomb of unknown power.

The war a thousand years ago was so brutal that even Yamamoto felt lingering fear when he recalled it. Although he ultimately won, the price he paid was equally heavy.

"Whatever their purpose, this matter is of utmost importance." Captain-Commander Yamamoto finally spoke in a deep voice, breaking the deathly silence in the room. "The Quincy have reappeared and are actively attacking the Shinigami. This matter must be taken very seriously! Sparrowbe."

"Yes!" Chojiro immediately straightened his back.

"This information should not be shared with a wider audience for the time being, so as not to cause unnecessary panic and suspicion."

Yamamoto commanded, his tone leaving no room for doubt, "But each squad must be on high alert, especially monitoring the Hueco Mundo passage and the abnormal spiritual pressure fluctuations in the real world."

We must analyze the transmitted spiritual energy residue samples with all our might to determine their specific source and characteristics.

"Yes!" The sagabe quickly made a note.

Yamamoto hesitated for a moment, then added, "Also, immediately notify Squad Zero, Yanagawa."

This matter involves the Quincy and takes place in Hueco Mundo, so it is no longer simply an internal affair of the Gotei 13.

The Zero Division has the right to know and the responsibility to intervene, and will deliver the report to Yanagawa.

"Understood!" Quebu accepted the order and was about to turn around to carry it out.

Shortly afterward, at the Ghost Path Sect's encampment, Yanagawa received a report from the Sparrow Clan.

"Queens? Hueco Mundo? Sniping?" Yanagawa's expression became focused.

He knew of the existence of Quincy, based on information he had gathered in the Great Spiritual Arts Corridor.

Most of the Quincy appear to have been eliminated, and the remaining small number are under close surveillance.

The fact that Quincy have reappeared in Hueco Mundo and attacked the Shinigami Expeditionary Force with such fierce precision is no small matter.

Without hesitation, Liu Chuan activated the emergency contact channel on his communicator that led directly to the Spirit King Palace.

Complex spiritual runes lit up on the surface of the object, creating a stable cross-space connection.

"Lord Hyosube." Yanagawa said to the emerging phantom of Hyosube Ichibei, which was composed of a hazy aura of spiritual particles.

He calmly began to recount the information sent by Captain-Commander Yamamoto, along with his own questions, in a concise and clear manner.

On the other end of the communicator, in the Lingwang Palace, inside the Eye Monk's Hall.

Hyōsuke Ichibei sat cross-legged, and after listening to Yanagawa's account, the smile on his usually gentle face gradually faded.

"As expected—it still happened."

Hyosube Ichibei's voice came through the communicator, "Yanagawa, this information is very important. Captain-Commander Yamamoto was right to inform you. This matter is indeed of great importance and is no longer a simple matter concerning Seireitei."

He paused, as if organizing his thoughts on how to explain that long-forgotten history to future generations.

"Since you have asked, I will explain it to you in detail."

Hyosube Ichibei's voice softened, carrying a distant quality as he recounted the past: "A thousand years ago, the Soul Society experienced a catastrophe. The one who led this calamity was the progenitor of the Quincy, named Yhwach."

He commanded an elite force that called itself the Sternritter.

Their massive invasion of Soul Society was not without its ambitions; it even threatened the very foundation of the world's balance.

His words were not hurried, but each one was heavy: "That battle was extremely tragic. The Seireitei was reduced to ashes, and countless Grim Reapers perished in the line of duty."

They barely managed to win, but their Sternritter suffered heavy losses, with the remnants scattering and going into hiding.

A thousand years have passed, and everyone thought the Quincy were a thing of the past, but unexpectedly—”

"It is no coincidence that the remnants of the Quincy have now appeared in Hueco Mundo and attacked the expeditionary force in such a high-profile manner."

Hyosube Ichibei's tone returned to its usual composure, yet carried an undeniable decisiveness: "Yanagawa, I believe it is most appropriate for you to investigate this matter."

He explained the reason, as if a senior were entrusting an important task to a junior: "Firstly, as a member of the Zero Squad, you have the authority and responsibility to handle events that may shake the balance of the three realms."

Secondly, your keen observation skills might allow you to detect subtle clues that ordinary Grim Reapers would miss.

A hint of consideration flashed in his eyes.

"The Hueco Mundo environment is treacherous, and the Quincy's abilities are unpredictable, often producing unexpected results."

Hyosube Ichibei gave the final instruction, "In case of an emergency, you may make your own decision and take appropriate action."

"Yes, Lord Hyosubu."

The communication ended, and the spiritual aura dissipated.

Hyosube Ichibei's request, and the mystery of the Quincy, were indeed very attractive to Yanagawa.

Yanagawa had never witnessed the power of the Quincy since he came to this world.

Now that Quincy have appeared in Hueco Mundo, it's a good opportunity to experience it firsthand.

Furthermore, Yanagawa's new ideas about Kido are somewhat limited in Seireitei, so he'll test them out during this trip to Hueco Mundo.