Bleach: The Strongest Shinigami-Chapter 307 ⥤ Wandenreich, Your Emperor Has Returned

Bambietta curled into herself as tightly as possible, trying to quell her fear. Yet the moment their eyes met, an indescribable despair washed over her.

How could a Shinigami appear in the Wandenreich?!

And one whose power was so overwhelming that resistance seemed futile.

"I... I don't know His Majesty's location..." Bambietta's voice cracked, tears welling in her eyes.

Though Yhwach had recently granted her a Schrift and elevated her to Sternritter, he remained distrustful of most Quincy — even other Sternritter members. Haschwalth alone held his confidence.

In all the vast Wandenreich, only the Imperial Adviser knew where Yhwach slept.

Seeing that Bambietta would be of no use, Akira's face broke into a villainous — no, heroic — grin. With a swift chop of his right hand, he rendered her unconscious.

Other matters awaited; he'd attend to the real business after dealing with Yhwach.

"I've located Yhwach's position." Aizen's eyes cleared of their blue-purple glow as he spoke, "As in our world, he sleeps in the deepest part of the First Tower. However, something seems off about his current state — he's fallen into such a deep slumber that he hasn't even sensed my deliberately released Reiatsu."

Akira pondered this information.

Beside him, Aizen observed the scene with evident dissonance.

"Though I rarely interact with the Quincy here, it feels harsh to strike against these familiar faces." Akira said gravely, looking at the two identical figures before him, "Why not include the Quincy in the transformation plan?"

Aizen nodded, "I understand."

The parallel Aizen frowned, puzzled by their exchange.

Had the Quincy from another world joined the Shinigami ranks? What had these two accomplished?

Intense curiosity stirred within him, sparking a sudden desire to explore the neighboring world. He'd make that visit once this matter concluded.

While he contemplated this, the other two had already stepped from the alley, intentionally releasing mild Reiatsu to announce their presence to the Wandenreich.

The evil Shinigami had arrived from the Soul Society to the Shadow Area!

Nearby Quincy immediately detected this Reiatsu and, emboldened by courage, rushed to confront them. Led by the Soldat, the Quincy troops launched their attacks the moment they spotted Akira, without hesitation.

Countless brilliant Heilig Pfeil shot forth like torrential rain, flooding the street. But attacks of this level couldn't even penetrate Akira's dispersed Reiatsu, let alone harm him.

"Kekeke, rejoice! Celebrate! Wandenreich, your emperor has returned!"

The Quincy's faces contorted in horror as they recoiled from the violent Reiatsu, pressing themselves against the nearby walls.

A crushing pressure descended over the entire street. Like a wave of killing intent, it swept through the Quincy ranks — their eyes rolled back, their legs gave out, and they collapsed unconscious one after another.

⤫ Burner Finger 1! ⤬

A roar echoed from afar as scorching Reiatsu blazed across the sky like a falling meteor, hurtling toward Akira's position. The intense flames spiraled, bathing the street in crimson light.

Akira raised an eyebrow. This Bazz-B differed from the one in his memory — more aggressive and even more reckless. Without considering the vast power difference, he had charged in headlong.

Naturally, Akira wouldn't show mercy.

Under Bazz-B's bewildered gaze, Akira casually unleashed his self-developed Hadō Suiryūdan no Jutsu (Water Dragon Bullet Technique), which swallowed and extinguished the flames in the sky. With another effortless strike, he grabbed Bazz-B's face and slammed him violently into the ground.

Boom!

The ground shattered, rocks exploded with thunderous force, and dust billowed skyward. A deep, crack-laden crater opened in the wide street.

Looking around, not a single Quincy remained conscious.

⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬

First Tower, Great Hall.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor outside. Haschwalth lifted his head in confusion, turning toward the door.

A Quincy soldier appeared, his expression tense. He bowed respectfully before stammering his report about the empire's emergency.

"Shinigami from the Soul Society have appeared at the empire's border. They've defeated two squads and Lord Bazz-B!"

Haschwalth's eyes widened sharply as he nearly leaped from his seat.

Everyone knew the Shadow Area had been constructed by countless Quincy and reinforced multiple times after Yhwach's awakening. Not even Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto could penetrate the empire's interior, let alone ordinary Shinigami.

Yet now their realm — their absolute domain — had been infiltrated by Shinigami who hadn't even tried to hide their presence, but instead declared open war against the empire!

"How many of them are there?"

"Three people..."

Haschwalth: "?"

Before he could voice his confusion, another burst of hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor outside.

"Report! The Shinigami have reached the Fourteenth Tower. Our basic troops and defenses are useless against them. One claims to be the new emperor, here to take over the empire."

Haschwalth's pupils contracted as he instinctively rushed toward the door. Before he could reach it, more Quincy soldiers appeared.

"Lord Haschwalth, the demon Shinigami have breached the Tenth Tower! The Soldat forces are completely annihilated! The Sternritter lords have mobilized to resist the tyrant's invasion."

Haschwalth drew a sharp breath, knowing he couldn't delay. In mere moments, the enemy had reached the Tenth Tower — if they didn't act swiftly, they might soon be preparing His Majesty Yhwach's funeral.

⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬

As Akira demolished more Quincy with a single punch, piercing alarms rang throughout the Wandenreich.

"The usurper Shinigami has crossed the training area and reached the Fourth Tower. All forces, mobilize! Resist the invasion force!"

Liltotto stared at the demon-like figure with despair-filled eyes.

Moments ago, over ten Sternritter members had attacked together, unleashing their strongest techniques immediately.

Yet they were instantly annihilated — some vanishing completely, their bodies transforming into Reishi and returning to Yhwach's embrace.

Against such terrifying Shinigami, what force in the empire could stand against them?

Powerful Reiatsu descended as Haschwalth appeared on the ravaged battlefield, blocking Akira's path.

"Stop here, Shinigami." A spirit sword materialized in his right hand while his left raised a shield of atonement.

The moment he laid eyes on his opponent, Haschwalth entered his strongest battle state without hesitation.

Seeing no response, he raised his spirit sword and slashed forward. Countless Reishi particles condensed on the blade, making it shine like a sun in the dim Wandenreich.

Clang!

Disbelief crossed Haschwalth's face as his mighty slash — one that could cleave any being in two — struck Akira's finger and rang out like clashing metal.

That finger's hardness surpassed even his Freund Schild (Substitute Shield).

Has he gone mad?

Veins bulged on Haschwalth's forehead as he channeled his Reiatsu, desperately trying to sever the opponent's finger.

But even his full power made no difference. Akira simply curved his finger, placed its tip on the blade, and gave him a deceptively gentle smile.

"Long time no see, Jugo."

Crack!

The spirit sword shattered instantly, its fragments scattering in all directions.

Haschwalth collapsed powerlessly, despair washing over his face before consciousness left him.

How could there be such a terrifying being among the Shinigami?

With their strongest warrior defeated, the remaining Sternritter could not halt Akira's advance. The reporting Quincy's voice trembled:

"Lord Haschwalth has fallen, and most of the Knight Lords with him. The usurper approaches the First Tower..."

After eliminating those whose faces he didn't recognize and those too wicked to reform, Akira entered the First Tower.

All resistance in the Wandenreich had ceased.

⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬⤫⤬

In the endless darkness, Yhwach frowned upon his throne, his sleeping expression twisted. The nightmare persisted, defying explanation.

Stranger still, his Almighty power was recovering with unusual ease, growing stronger by the moment.

Then he sensed it — someone touching the Sankt Altar he had placed in the darkness. Without hesitation, Yhwach forced himself awake.

What met his eyes made his breath catch.

Two familiar figures stood before the throne, their slight smiles radiating powerful, terrifying Reiatsu.

"First time meeting you, Yhwach."

The calm voice resonated through the empty darkness, making Yhwach's blood run cold.

"Sōsuke Aizen!"

Unlike the ignorant Yhwach from the parallel world, this world's Yhwach knew the Soul Society's intelligence well. He had long ago designated the Soul Society's traitor Aizen as one of the Five Special War Powers and treated him with utmost caution.

But why were there two Sōsuke Aizens before him?!

Before he could process this, another voice cut through the darkness:

"Sōsuke, there's no need for honor when dealing with scum like this. Let's attack together."

The words had barely left his lips when a flaming fist surged forward, scorching heat waves rippling through space itself.

Yhwach, caught off guard, couldn't even draw his Quincy Cross — he only managed to activate Blut Vene to defend himself.

But what defense could withstand Akira's fist?

Upon impact, bones shattered with a sharp crack, and Yhwach's face contorted in agony.

An overwhelming force erupted, sending him flying into the edge of darkness. The First Tower shuddered violently as countless stone fragments rained down and cracks spider-webbed across its surface.

"Thank you for your trouble." Aizen nodded to the figure beside him.

Parallel Aizen remained silent, immediately releasing a powerful flow of Reiatsu to stabilize the trembling dark room.

He was in an evolutionary phase, his Reiatsu still growing stronger. Though not quite matching Aizen's power, few across the Sangai could surpass him.

Struggling to his feet, Yhwach's face was a mask of utter shock.

He thought two Aizens were frightening enough, but there was an even stronger opponent. This brute who had beaten him mercilessly left no impression in his memory — he couldn't find a single trace of information about him in his mind.

Akira's eyes gleamed as he grinned fiercely at Yhwach. Last time hadn't been enough; now he could properly vent his fury.

Yhwach activated the Sankt Altar, only to discover his opponent was completely immune — unable to have even a fraction of Reiatsu absorbed, let alone be affected by any other abilities.

⤫ Sankt Bogen ⥤ Great Holy Bow! ⤬

Several Heilig Pfeil — arrows powerful enough to destroy the Zero Division's palace — were fired, yet couldn't even scratch his outer layer.

Condensed Blue Flames! Brilliant azure blazed through the darkness but failed to penetrate the opponent's Reiatsu defense.

⤫ Kirchenlied: Sankt Zwinger ⥤ Holy Chant: Sanctuary Veneration! ⤬

The giant battle formation expanded and deployed, only to shatter from a single punch. Ineffective — everything was ineffective.

A look of determination crossed Yhwach's face as he activated Auswählen without hesitation.

Nearby, Aizen smiled, releasing an all-encompassing flow of Reiatsu. The Soul King's power erupted in the darkness, forcefully extinguishing Auswählen's light.

Despair filled Yhwach's eyes. He had never imagined his greatest trump card would be countered so easily. Now, powerless to fight back, he could only await his fate.

With Akira's final Infinite Void Annihilation landing, Yhwach was once again reduced to dust.

Deep black Reiatsu spread through the darkness, and Aizen swiftly collected it in a special container. This power would be repurposed to create backup Soul Kings, stabilizing the Sangai.

No matter which world's Soul King, they were all pitiful beings who had toiled for millions of years. Yhwach's greatest purpose would be to replace his father, sitting upon the golden throne he had always coveted.

Having finished their task, the three left the First Tower, walking out of the crumbling building.

The observing Quincy discovered their trail, shock evident on their faces.

Soon, a resounding voice echoed throughout the Shadow Area:

"His Imperial Majesty the Emperor has just arrived at the Great Cathedral under the watchful eyes of his loyal subjects!"

⤫⤬⤫

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