I said you are all war criminals

After giving the order, Yili turned back to the throne and leaned his back against the cold chair.

She closed her eyes.

And Xiangzi finally stood up.

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

149

Chapter 149: Five more glasses.

"This Hollow...is the so-called Achukas, right?"

Gokou Ruri's voice was weak from the blood loss, and beads of sweat oozed from her pale face. Reizo threads danced across her severed arm like a swarm of glowing fireflies, diligently stitching up the hideous wound. The pungent smell of blood filled the air.

Kousaka Kirino pinched her nose in disgust and circled around Gokou Ruri, "Tsk tsk tsk, Gothic Loli, you're too lame, aren't you? You actually had your hand cut off by a Hollow. If you do this again next time, I won't save you."

Kousaka Kirino and Gokou Ruri, the Chiba Prefecture's magical girl (Quincy) duo, were already a solid line of defense here. Whether it was a regular Hollow or a large one, the two of them could work together to repel them.

"Okay, okay, stop turning. I'm dizzy."

Gokou Ruri sighed weakly, her eyelids slightly raised, and she glanced at Kousaka Kirino, who was wandering around her. Phantom pains shot through her broken arm, as if countless ants were gnawing at her bones, causing her to bite her lips tightly.

Waves of phantom pain washed over her broken arm, like a rusty saw slowly sawing at her bones. The spirit thread had indeed stopped the bleeding and barely patched the wound, but the feeling of emptiness she felt could never be filled. Gokou Ruri bit her lower lip, her face frighteningly pale. She looked down at the empty sleeve, her eyes hollow, as if her soul had been drained away.

"Damn..."

She cursed under her breath, her voice as hoarse as sandpaper on glass.

Kousaka Kirino stopped spinning and crossed her arms. "Hey, Goth Loli, what are you daydreaming about? Are you scared?"

Liuli ignored Kirino's taunts, her mind replaying the battle with Achukas. That enormous Hollow, with its sickening white mask and those massive claws that swung outwards, capable of tearing everything apart... If she had been quicker, more decisive, perhaps... those ordinary people wouldn't have been caught up in it.

Thinking of this, Liuli's heart seemed to be tightly grasped by an invisible hand, making her almost unable to breathe.

Seeing Gokou Ruri's distraught look, Kousaka Kirino's annoyance faded a bit. Although she usually liked to argue with her and make her jump with anger, seeing her in such a lifeless state, Kirino still felt a little upset. She walked over to Ruri and slapped her on the uninjured shoulder, "Hey, black cat, what are you daydreaming about? Are you scared silly?"

Liuli blinked slightly and coughed twice, "I...I'm fine."

"Nothing? You're like a dead person if nothing happens? Why are you pretending to be so profound?"

Kirino rolled her eyes in annoyance. Although she was harsh in her words, her tone softened. "I know you blame yourself, but you did your best, didn't you? That Hollow was too strong. Even if we two joined forces, we couldn't defeat it. You're missing a hand, so there's nothing we can do about it."

"I……"

Liuli bit her lower lip and turned her head away stubbornly, "I'm really fine, just... a little tired."

"Tired? I think you are mentally tired, right?"

Kirino curled her lips, "Alright, stop being so stubborn. Don't I know what you're thinking? Isn't it just that I feel I haven't protected those ordinary people well? It's not your fault. Who knew that the Hollow would suddenly appear?"

Liuli fell silent. She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her flesh, yet she felt no pain. She wasn't blaming herself, but rather... anger. Angry at her own powerlessness, at her inability to protect those innocent people, and even more angry at... Yili's disdain for them.

"Hey... Kirino, why did His Majesty... Why didn't Ichiri give us writing?"

"Holy text? What's so rare about that?"

Kirino crossed her arms and curled her lips, a look of disdain almost frozen on her delicate face, "Tsk, I don't envy that kind of thing at all."

She raised her chin like a proud peacock, her eyes full of disdain, "Only a truly strong person would need to rely on that kind of thing."

As she spoke, she waved her fist to show off, but accidentally pulled the wound, causing her to grimace in pain.

Liuli felt helpless as she watched Kirino feigning strength. This girl, clearly terrified, was trying to act fearless.

"Kirito, it's not right for you to say that."

Liuli's voice was still hoarse, but her tone was firm. "The holy text is power. With it, we can become stronger and protect more people. Those ordinary people have no spiritual power and are unable to protect themselves. If we had the holy text, we could... we could prevent tragedies like today!"

Kirino sneered disapprovingly, "Stop it, Liuli, you're only boosting others' morale and destroying your own prestige! We don't need that kind of thing, our own strength is enough!"

"enough!"

Liuli suddenly interrupted her, her voice trembling with an imperceptible tremor. "Kirito, could you please stop being so naive? Do you think you're strong? Do you really think you can protect everyone? Without the Holy Word, we can't do anything! Those people today... are the best proof!"

"This is my line. How long are you going to act like a spoiled child?"

"My line? Act like a spoiled brat?"

Liuli was like a cat whose tail was stepped on, and she was furious. "Kirito! Can you please listen to me carefully? This is a matter of life and death, can you please not treat it so lightly?"

"I'm kidding? What's so funny about me?"

Kirino glared back without showing any weakness. "But you, Liuli, when did you become so fussy? Where is the decisive black cat from before?"

Kirino said this and turned away.

Liuli looked at Kirino's back, wanting to say something, but in the end she said nothing.

Pushing open the door, the room was dark, illuminated only by a faint light coming in from the window. Liuli walked to the mirror and looked at her disheveled self in the mirror. Her clothes were torn, her hair was messy, and... her left arm was empty.

She slowly raised her right hand and gently stroked the empty sleeve of her left shoulder.

"Ugh……"

A sigh escaped Liuli's mouth.

"Why...why not give us the holy text?"

Liuli murmured to herself, her tone full of confusion and doubt. She didn't understand why Yili treated them so differently and why he didn't give them the power they deserved.

Aren’t they friends?

Just as Liuli was feeling down, the phone in her pocket rang. She took out her phone with her right hand, unlocked it with one hand, and saw a message inside.

From Yukinoshita Yukino.

[Tomorrow morning, gather at the Soul King's Eye.]

150

Chapter 150: Yukinoshita Yukino

Yukinoshita Yukino.

Twenty years old.

Possessing the holy word of "Justice", he travels around the world in the name of justice.

Unlike the other members of the Knights, Yukino did not stay in Japan to defend the homeland. Instead, she expelled Hollows all over the world without compensation.

...Yes, it is not just Japan that will experience "emptiness".

Let's see.

On the Champs-Élysées in Paris, a bustling crowd gathered. A street performer played the melodious accordion, drawing many tourists to stop and admire. Yet, amidst this peaceful atmosphere, a twisted black figure quietly drifted through the crowd. It greedily absorbed the surrounding life energy, sending a strange chill through those nearby. Some rubbed their arms, muttering, "It's so cold today," oblivious to the true danger. A young mother passed by with a baby in a stroller, and the infant suddenly began to cry uncontrollably, as if sensing a terrifying presence. The child's eyes gradually turned white, and the light faded.

In New York, the neon lights of Times Square flickered, illuminating a bustling scene. People from around the world gathered here to experience the city's energy. However, above the bustling crowd, a shadowy form resembling a gigantic spider clung to the facade of a skyscraper. Its crimson compound eyes scanned the crowd below, emitting a chilling hiss. Unbeknownst to them, an elderly man collapsed to the ground, soundless.

In Rio de Janeiro, passionate samba dancers danced on the beach, showcasing the vibrant energy of Brazil. However, behind this joyful scene, a shadowy figure resembling a giant python lurked in the water. Its massive body writhed in the water, stirring up waves. On the beach, a surfer was suddenly dragged into the sea by a powerful force, disappearing without a trace. The surrounding people were horrified, unsure of what had happened.

——Look familiar?

Such scenes are happening all over the world right now.

The next one might be you.

And the person who can prevent you from becoming like this is Yukinoshita Yukino.

In Paris, atop the Eiffel Tower, Yukino Yukinoshita stood like a statue. The wind rustled her long black hair, making it rustle like a flag in the night. She wore the Quincy's signature white uniform, which only accentuated her tall figure.

She narrowed her eyes, her gaze fixed on a distorted black figure on the Champs-Élysées. The figure was stealthily approaching a young blond woman, its claws extended greedily, and it was about to succeed.

She slowly raised her right hand, and a pale blue light slid down from her fingers, forming a longbow made of pure spiritual energy. On the bowstring, a blue arrow of light, condensed with powerful spiritual pressure, was ready to be released.

“Justice.”

Yukino spat out these two words coldly.

The next second, an arrow of light flew out from the bow, cutting through the night sky, and with a sharp whistling sound, it accurately hit the void.

There was no earth-shattering explosion, no tragic wailing. The Hollow was like being erased by an eraser, instantly turning into tiny fragments and dissipating into the air.

"The fourth one."

Yukino sheathed her longbow, the pale blue spiritual light dissipating from her fingertips. The nightscape of Paris stretched out beneath her feet, dazzling and hazy, yet unable to mask the aura of emptiness that permeated the air. Even though she had already eliminated 37 of them, Yukino knew that this was just a drop in the ocean.

She jumped lightly from the top of the Eiffel Tower, her long black hair flying in the night breeze like an elegant nighthawk.

Now, Yukinoshita is returning to the "Eye of the Soul King" in low Earth orbit.

Yukinoshita chose not to fly back to the Soul King's Eye. While her abilities would have easily allowed her to reach low Earth orbit from Paris, she hated the long flights and even more so, the exposure of her presence at high altitude. After leaping from the Eiffel Tower, she landed in a secluded corner and, with a flick of her hand, released tiny dots of blue light. The faint blue spiritual energy traced a complex pattern on the ground. The intricate interweaving of lines emitted a faint fluorescent glow, like an ice-blue lotus blossoming beneath the night sky.

A faint buzzing sound was heard in the air, and the light of the pattern on the ground suddenly intensified, forming a rotating vortex that emitted a dazzling light.

Yukinoshita stepped into the teleportation array without any hesitation.

When she reappeared, Yukinoshita was already inside the "Eye of the Soul King." It was a vast spherical space, its walls shimmering with intricate runes. A massive crystal ball hovered in the center, emitting a soft white light that illuminated the entire space. A variety of scenes flowed across the crystal ball's surface, providing real-time views of every corner of Earth.

Unlike the "Throne Room" where Goto Ichiri meets the emperor, this is a relay station that any Quincy can access.

Yukinoshita glanced around; no one was there. Because the Quincies were so few in number, the Soul King's Eye relied heavily on the intelligent AI developed by Yamada Ryo for maintenance, effectively operating unmanned.

Yukinoshita sat down on the pure white sofa, the soft touch relaxing her tense nerves. The sofa was made of a unique material, supposedly woven from fibers from some deep-sea creature. It was warm in winter and cool in summer, and it could automatically adjust its firmness to perfectly conform to the body's curves. Of course, the price was also staggering, enough to buy a nice apartment in central Tokyo. But for the Quincy, this expense was nothing.

Lying on the sofa, Yukinoshita closed her eyes and gently tapped the armrest with her fingertips. One, two, three times... The rhythmic tapping echoed in the empty room, as if reflecting her inner anxiety. For the past two years, she had been traveling around the world, hunting down fleeing Hollows, and had little time to pay attention to the situation in Japan. Although she occasionally glanced at the monitoring system of the "Eye of the Soul King", it was only a quick glance.

To be honest, when she received Ichiri's order, Yukinoshita thought she had made a mistake... According to the ancient texts Ichiri had found, the God of Death had disappeared from the world after slaughtering the last of the Quincy two hundred years ago. Unexpectedly, after two hundred years, the God of Death had reappeared in the world.

And this time... as the Quincies who were slaughtered, they still have to send messengers to fight back against the Shinigami.

"...What a wicked God!"

Yukinoshita smiled softly.

Goto Ichiri is such a person. The tasks she arranges seem to be deadly and terrifying at first glance.

but……

"As long as you listen to Master Ichiri, everything will go well."

Yukinoshita sincerely hopes that her two teammates can understand this truth.

151

Chapter 151: Aizen Sosuke.

Soul Society, Seireitei, 5th Division Barracks.

Captain's room.

The room was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood, his usual incense, said to calm the mind and improve spiritual power. From the window, the view of Seireitei was unobstructed, with cherry blossoms falling.

Aizen Sosuke is practicing calligraphy.

The tip of the brush roamed across the rice paper, the ink-soaked wolf-hair brush sketching out vigorous and powerful characters. Aizen was currently writing a Tang Dynasty poem, Li Bai's "Song of the Wine." The wild verses, in his handwriting, seemed remarkably calm, like the tranquility of a lake.

Aizen's daily life is extremely regular. In addition to handling team affairs and doing necessary training, he spends most of his time on calligraphy, tea ceremony, and reading. He likes this peaceful and fulfilling life, which makes him feel in control of everything.

"Captain Sosuke, the captain wants you to come over."

Outside the captain's room, a beautiful girl's voice was heard.

Aizen's brushstrokes paused, and the thick ink spread across the snow-white rice paper, rapidly expanding like a black flower blooming in the snow, with jagged edges of the petals, carrying a strange beauty.

This unexpected ink stain actually added a bit of interest to the calligraphy. He put down the brush in his hand, gently blew the ink dry, and put away the written calligraphy with an elegant and calm movement.

After doing all this, he raised his voice to the tall shadow outside the paper door, "Got it, I'll be there right away."

"Then I'll go take care of team business, Captain!"

His deputy captain said this and disappeared out the door.

...Although he had known the boy's character for a long time, Aizen couldn't help but chuckle when he saw that he, the captain, was abandoned so easily.

Aizen didn't use flash. He strolled leisurely beneath the cherry blossoms of Seireitei, petals falling in a riot of color. Occasionally, a petal landed on his shoulder, only to be gently brushed away. He savored this leisurely stroll, like savoring a cup of fine tea, savoring its flavor slowly and carefully. For a god of death, time was the least valuable commodity. Rushing through life offered no benefit other than appearing shallow.

Along the way, Shinigami saluted and greeted him from time to time. Aizen Sousuke, Captain of the Fifth Division, a talented figure from the Soul Society, was elegant and refined, and extremely popular in Soul Society. He nodded in response to each greeting, a perfectly composed smile on his face that made people feel warm and relaxed.

It wasn't until they reached the First Squadron's barracks that the atmosphere changed.

The First Squad's quarters were solemn and dignified. A faint sense of oppression hung in the air, like the calm before a storm. Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni sat cross-legged in the main seat, his mottled captain's haori against the rough wooden floor, making him appear even more aged and majestic.