You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

Sera breathed a sigh of relief, then blushed at the unobstructed contact of their skin—even though they had been more intimate for most of the night, she seemed to only just realize it.

"Let me go... I have important things to do."

"As a royal advisor, isn't my order the most important 'matter' for you?"

Iori stroked that smooth, silky skin, making the girl feel as if she were being electrocuted, her muscles tensing up.

For some reason, after a night of passion, Iori's tone was unusually cold: "I gave you a whole night, and you couldn't even leave a mark on me. You've really disappointed me, Sera!"

"...You!" The girl was so angry that she wanted to grab Iori by the neck and ask who had been ruining her work yesterday.

—Although there were more vulnerable areas within reach than the neck, Sera, out of girlish modesty, simply couldn't bring herself to do it.

"What a useless advisor... But you're lucky, I'm a magnanimous monarch, so I've decided to give you another chance!"

Iori's lips curled slightly as he gripped the girl's firm waistline with both hands, lifting her up as easily as if taming a small animal. Sera, unable to struggle, could only straddle Iori.

She desperately wanted to mock the shameless Iori, but quickly realized she was in grave danger and was rendered speechless...

Sera felt like she was taming a wild horse, but in the process, only the positions of the rider and the rider were clearly defined. The primary and secondary relationships were completely reversed. She was being led around from beginning to end. Her chest felt as if it were blocked by bursts of smoke from a fire, being repeatedly pounded by the powerful torque of the engine, accompanied by groans that assaulted the defenses of her throat.

Clenching her teeth, holding her breath, and even tightly covering her trembling lips—the girl displayed an unprecedented stubbornness at this moment.

Perhaps this is a small act of resistance... a rebellion against the tyrant's barbaric attitude!

But she still couldn't hold on until the end. Her long neck arched like a swan in flight, and the girl's physical and mental defenses were completely broken. She collapsed backward as if exhausted, her fair skin tinged with pinkish-red. She should have been full of energy, but she was covered in a fine layer of sweat...

Iori stopped what she was doing, giving the girl a chance to catch her breath, but her mind was in a rather shameless way thinking about another woman—Esdeath.

They were in the same pose, but Esdeath and Sera's performances were completely different.

Physically speaking, Esdeath has a very healthy body, full of vitality and beast-like resilience, and also possesses an aggressiveness, even violence, that matches that ferocious body!

While Serra's figure is equally curvaceous (and she seems to have had some minor adjustments), she is more slender and supple, and her style is more passive.

If we were to make a comparison, it would be the difference between "ice" and "snow".

"Well……"

Perhaps out of resentment, Sera covered her face with her hands, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Iori noticed something was wrong and quickly got up to check on her, asking with concern, "Are you alright?"

"No..." The girl's voice was barely audible.

"Ok?"

"...Please don't...bully me."

Sera's hand was pulled away, and her delicate, doll-like face showed an expression that seemed sickly. A few tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, whether from excitement or shyness, mingling with the sweat on her forehead.

—The snow melted into rain.

"Please don't bully me..."

She repeated it again, her silvery, smooth voice tinged with a faint sob. Those few syllables went straight to Iori's ears, igniting something like a spark.

The girl's words and actions were not pretentious, which is precisely why they were so unbearable.

...Sera, you may not have noticed it yourself, but your expression, your voice, your posture... these won't win a man's pity; instead, they will only stir up another kind of murky emotion.

Looking down at the body that was now completely under her control, Iori smiled silently—revealing an expression she had never shown before.

That was without a doubt a true "tyrant"!

"Is that so? I'm sorry... Then let's do it gently, Sera... Open your eyes!"

"Woo!"

-

Beyond the planned schedule, Iori spent another half a month in "Akatsuki" before finally completing the "Shun-Hoo" magic mark... no, because it was adapted and adjusted to correspond to the spirit particle system, so this name is no longer accurate.

Perhaps it would be more appropriate to call it the "Soul Imprint," because it is a complex circuit depicted using Iori's body (the materialization of her soul) as its vessel.

It's completely invisible under normal circumstances; it only becomes apparent when high-density energy is injected during use.

After completing this research, Iori returned to Bleach, and of course, she didn't forget to adjust the time flow back... otherwise, if she returned to the Empire a few days later, the only familiar face she would have was Sera...

The war between the Shinigami and the Quincy continues. Iori is not an emperor here, but a hard-working laborer with no power to participate in decision-making. Every day, he simply accepts tasks and completes them.

He had fought the Quincy a few times, but never encountered another expert like Scarface, and there's not much to say about the process.

He doesn't need much sleep, and in his spare time from daily tasks, he would go to Mayuri Kurotsuchi to check on his research progress, or work with Yoruichi Shihouin to refine his "Instant Harshness" technique.

When interacting with these two, Iori would carefully control his words and actions, trying not to reveal his true level in academics and Kido, and simply maintain the image of being "very talented".

If you told Yoruichi that he had not only mastered "Instant Harshness" but also developed a Soul Crest that could last for a long time, that catgirl would definitely question her existence...

Unfortunately, even if he wanted to share it with Yoruichi, he couldn't, because the imprint was made based on magic circuits. His body had special characteristics that allowed him to easily meet the requirements, but ordinary Shinigami didn't have such convenient conditions.

Moreover, it's not just "Instantaneous Wrath." If Iori were to break the Quincy's "Dynamic Blood Armor" technique in the future, or learn a complex Kido, he could also create different kinds of seals from it.

Because his body is essentially made entirely of magic circuits, the number of inscriptions he can theoretically bear is also infinite!

(In reality, it depends on the size of its own "container". For example, a mobile phone can download an unlimited number of apps, but only if it has enough memory space.)

Iori initially plotted the Third Law simply to obtain a convenient body, but now he increasingly feels that "soul materialization" is truly an omnipotent miracle!

As Sera said at the time, the creations of "magic" have infinite potential; it all depends on how Iori explores the possibilities of this body.

As time passed, the battle progressed steadily and slowly, without much fanfare. Kyoraku Shunsui did not rush forward but instead used the overall advantage of the Shinigami to continuously squeeze the Quincy's living space, gradually forcing them to shrink their forces and be trapped in a coastal city.

Meanwhile, Chunshui secretly ordered the Ghost Path Clan to set up a large-scale sealing barrier, completely isolating the city from the outside world.

The reason for this is that the battle between the Shinigami and the Quincy is destined to cause considerable destruction, and the human world is undoubtedly more vulnerable compared to Soul Society and Hueco Mundo.

Multiple captain-level combatants could potentially cause irreversible damage to the stability of the space... Therefore, we should first designate a battlefield, use the Ghost Path to confine the area of ​​influence to this city, and then carry out targeted repairs after the war ends.

In this way, it can both ensure the "annihilation" of the Quincy clan and minimize the destructive power.

On this day, Iori was ordered to be transferred to a camp outside the city, where he was stationed as one of the outposts.

It was only a kilometer away from the Quincy's last stronghold; one could see the towering walls in the distance with just a glance up, a sight that evoked a sense of awe.

"It's truly tragic that they're going to destroy the entire city..."

Tosen moved closer to Iori, his blind eyes seemingly able to "see" something as he gazed towards the city.

"Lord Aizen, is there really any justice in this kind of war?"

“It depends on your perspective.” Iori glanced at the city, but quickly looked away and shook his head. “The Shinigami and Quincy have both blood feuds and fundamental contradictions in their positions. They cannot tolerate each other’s existence. Such a war is inevitable… The only difference is that we have the upper hand.”

"If the Quincy gain the upper hand, will we be the ones facing annihilation?" Kaname Tosen asked.

“That’s how it is historically,” Iori shrugged.

In the original work, whether it was Yhwach's first invasion of Soul Society or the Thousand-Year Blood War that the protagonist encountered, the Quincy were more ruthless than the Shinigami when they were in power...

At least until Yhwach died, the two sides were destined to be unable to coexist.

"Even so, I am unwilling to harm those who are unable to resist... There can't be only combatants in that city!"

Kaname Tosen is not a saint; he never hesitates on the battlefield. However, he considers himself a partner of justice and there are some things he simply cannot accept.

The Seireitei's order is to "exterminate" this race, which means that it's not enough to just kill the combatants... In the end, something very cruel will probably await them.

"Yes, genocide is unacceptable no matter what, so I..."

Just as Iori was about to say something, a black-winged butterfly emitting a faint blue light flew over from nowhere, immediately attracting their attention.

"Lord Aizen, is it a Hell Butterfly?"

"Hmm~"

Iori reached out his hand, and the Hell Butterfly, unafraid of people, landed on his fingertip.

A moment later, Iori's expression turned serious, and Tosen Kaname also gripped his Zanpakuto tightly.

The Hell Butterfly is one of the Grim Reaper's means of communication; upon contact, it can directly transmit information to the other party. This particular butterfly carries a brief but incredibly tense message:

[Summon officers of the rank of Commander-in-Chief and above to the General Command Camp to plan the battle operation three days from now. Those who neglect this duty will be punished according to military law.]

Holding meetings is not unusual, but summoning so many mid- to lower-ranking officers at once and directly assigning tasks instead of relaying them through higher-ranking officers...

This means the final battle is about to begin!

Chapter 187: The Painstaking Efforts of Kyoraku (4K)

The operational meeting was brief and efficient. The specific action plan had already been discussed and formulated by Chunshui and the captains. The meeting was only to convey this message to the core members of the army. Afterwards, the captains would naturally arrange for their subordinates to carry out the corresponding tasks.

As a member of the direct guard, Iori was summoned by Kensei Muguruma after the meeting and received direct orders from Shunsui Kyoraku to divide the guard into three groups to carry out different tasks.

Kensei Rokusha, along with Shusuke Amagai and Souhime Aizen, formed a group, commanding the elite of the 8th Division. They stayed by Shunsui Kyoraku's side, protecting the command center while being ready to join the battlefield as reinforcements at any time.

The Eighth Division itself wasn't particularly strong, but with the addition of these three top-tier vice-captains, it became the strongest unit on the battlefield overall. Shunsui kept them by his side with the intention of delivering a decisive blow when the battle reached a stalemate.

In addition, Qianzi Xianghe led a team of Death Gods to act alone, waiting behind the battle line. If any deserters or traitors were found, they could be "eliminated" without reporting them. Even noble children were not given any special treatment!

This is to prevent those with weak wills from disregarding military law because of their superior birth, preferring to defect rather than go to the battlefield... Chunshui himself came from an upper-class noble family and knew that there were indeed such scoundrels in the Thirteenth Squad.

He might normally turn a blind eye, but on matters of great importance concerning the stability of the Three Realms, no one and nothing must give way!

Therefore, he handed over the "Imperial Sword" to Xianghe and gave him permission to release the demonic blade at any time.

The remaining two, Iori and Yoruichi, were assigned to a team to blockade the sea.

Two kilometers west of the Quincy fortress lies the vast ocean. Due to the terrain, the barrier here is the weakest link and is easier to breach than the other three sides. Therefore, additional troops need to be deployed here.

Specifically, Yoruichi will lead the elite of the execution army as the Net, while Iori will serve as the general in charge!

The Execution Army is particularly skilled in reconnaissance and infiltration, and it is not difficult for them to lie in wait in a sea area. Iori is one of the top Bankai-level experts in the entire expeditionary force. With his "Flowing Water" Zanpakuto, he is even more powerful in this environment.

With Iori and Yoruichi guarding the area, there's no need to worry about any Quincy breaking out from here.

In reality, Kyoraku Shunsui had already deployed a large army consisting of five squads around the castle, whose overall strength was enough to overwhelm the Quincy... Their chances of breaking through were already very small, and leaving Iori on the sea was just a precaution.

After assigning the tasks, the members of the direct guard were dismissed on the spot, leaving only Kyoraku Shunsui, the commander-in-chief, and his deputy, Kuchiki Ginrei, in the empty tent.

The head of the Kuchiki family had been injured in battle and forced to step down, but after being personally treated by Retsu Unohana, he had regained his mobility and most of his fighting strength. Deeply ashamed of the defeat, he did not return to Soul Society to recuperate, but stayed to assist Shunsui.

Given his status and experience, his willingness to serve as Chunshui's deputy was an intangible asset for Chunshui. Originally, some people were dissatisfied with his frivolous nature, but after Yinling lowered his status, they had nothing to say, saving Chunshui a lot of effort in discipline.

Privately, Chunshui also had great respect for this veteran captain and often asked him for his opinion on the battle situation.

After everyone left, Kuchiki Ginryo pondered for a moment and, unusually, expressed a different opinion on the commander-in-chief's decision: "Is the supervisory team really necessary? Although there are many good-for-nothing noble children, they have not yet degenerated to the point of running away from the battlefield."

"It's just a safety measure." Given Kyoraku Shunsui's family background, it's unlikely he harbors any prejudice against the aristocracy, but he certainly doesn't trust those with ulterior motives.

There are quite a few people like Tsunayoshi Tokinada among the nobles... With such a trend, it's impossible to expect them to sacrifice their lives for the Soul Society.

On the contrary, the commoner Shinigami from Rukongai are brave and daring, and most of the members of the Eleventh Division are selected in this way.

"Even so, Qian Zixianghe should not be held responsible."

“His abilities are perfect for this,” Chunshui said matter-of-factly. “With him around, no one below the vice-captain can cause any trouble.”

"It is precisely because he is capable that we cannot let him take the lead!"

If he were to use this ability to execute Death in public... how would his teammates view him?

This isn't a matter of trust or distrust. Even if you have nothing to hide, no Grim Reaper could remain calm in the face of that cursed sword.

Fear, alienation, disgust... these were all predictable.

Xiu Mu Yin Ling clearly knew Xiang He well, and his words were full of protectiveness.

"Xianghe is a very outstanding young man, but he is not tactful enough in dealing with people. Moreover, the more ambitious a person is, the less able he is to tolerate a huge sense of loss. It would be inappropriate to make him face the negative emotions of the group."

"I'm sorry, I didn't think it through, but there's no one more suitable than him right now."

Chunshui lowered her head to express her apology, but her attitude was very firm: "This will not happen again. These are special times, so I have no choice but to let him suffer. I will try my best to make it up to him afterwards."

“…Alright.” Kuchiki Ginrei nodded after a moment of silence.

He had a good impression of Xianghe, mainly because when he was in charge of reviewing this young man, Yinling had spent some time with him and knew that he was a good young man who was both talented and hardworking, and who also had a strong sense of justice.

Although he has his flaws, his overall values ​​are considered very upright within Seireitei. As a senior member, Ginrei still wants to cultivate Hibiki into a pillar of the Thirteenth Division and doesn't want him to go astray.

At the same time, he also knew that although Kyoraku Shunsui seemed easy to talk to, he would not change his mind on this matter, and it was impossible to get the commander-in-chief to retract his order.

Since that's the case, Kuchiki Ginryo could only accept this outcome—on the eve of a major battle, it was impossible for him to clash with Chunshui for personal reasons.

The old captain secretly decided that after the war, he would transfer Xianghe to his own squad and personally protect him to prevent him from being resented by petty people... The Kuchiki family still had some influence in Seireitei, and Ginrei was confident that he could protect Xianghe.

His high regard for Hibiki stemmed from his appreciation of talent, and for the same reason, he also voiced his opinion on Kyoraku Shunsui's other appointment:

"Why remove Aizen Iori from the main battlefield? He is an extremely important fighting force."