Departing from the manor, they ascended to the peak of the Invisible Empire.
Seiya's group, having planned their time well, was in no rush.
Along the way—
They encountered another group.
—Though to call it a "group" was generous. There were only two of them.
With a cold expression and a sword at his hip, Haschwalth walked beside the finely groomed and immaculately dressed Uryū Ishida.
This guy's aura had changed drastically from just a month prior.
There was no trace of his previous levity or unease—he was now like a stone sunken deep into a lake: heavy, silent.
His spiritual pressure had also stabilized to the point of near-invisibility.
In terms of power...
He was no longer the same as before.
'It must be from receiving the latest Quincy training methods.'
Unlike the original timeline, this time Uryū joined the Invisible Empire earlier under Seiya's guidance.
Although such a small shift might not seem significant, for the individual involved, it meant everything.
The Ishida lineage had grown "outdated."
Tracing it back, Sōken Ishida's break with the Empire resulted in the family becoming isolated.
Their techniques and ideology stagnated, and over time, those flaws only grew.
Trying to compensate with talent alone was feasible—but never sustainable...
Now, with modern Quincy combat theory—refined spiritual manipulation, more innovative applications—it was a much-needed upgrade.
In the original timeline, Quilge Opie, during the Hueco Mundo invasion, once quipped after encountering Ichigo:
—"Your Heilig Pfeil reminds me of Uryū Ishida."
—"Ishida Uryū? Don't joke. My amateur skills can't compare to him."
This alone proved just how much the brat had gained in the Invisible Empire.
Talent and effort were vital—but opportunity, too, was a crucial "parameter."
Seiya gave Uryū a nod, quietly evaluating him.
'At this stage... he could match a standard captain-level opponent.'
Some foes might be too much, but if it were one of the "benchmark" types, he'd handle it fine...
And beyond that—
Uryū still had another leap ahead of him.
By receiving Yhwach's blood, all of a Quincy's attributes would receive a terrifying boost.
This wasn't just a stat boost—it would grant him a Schrift, a "sacred character," his equivalent of a Bankai-level secret weapon.
As thoughts stirred, they walked side by side.
The two parties met, creating a slightly awkward but not hostile atmosphere.
Seiya and Uryū exchanged a knowing glance—then both turned, continuing toward the tower.
The others behind glanced among themselves. Only the ever-temperamental Bazz-B clicked his tongue.
"Hey, Jugram! You've been sticking with that newbie lately, right?"
"What, His Majesty's orders? Asked you to take him under your wing, show him the ropes?"
"Let me say this now—I think that guy sucks!"
Typical bickering—met only by a calm stare.
In the Invisible Empire, scenes like this were common... few paid them any mind.
The sunlight angled off, and Seiya and Uryū soon reached the summit.
Seated on the throne like an ancient, unchanging monolith, Yhwach finally showed a ripple of emotion at their approach.
"Hmph..."
A faint smile formed, and in a murmur almost like chanting, he straightened in his seat.
"Step forward."
The formally dressed pair obeyed without hesitation, approaching at his command.
Yhwach placed his hands on the armrests and slowly stood, his gaze gleaming with layered meaning.
He gestured and spoke softly.
"Cups."
Without notice, Haschwalth was already at his side, holding two silver goblets, which he handed over with reverence.
Silver symbolized purity, untarnished by filth—apt for this ritual, carrying the meaning of "unsoiled by defilement."
Yhwach calmly extended his right palm, drew a short blade from his waist, and sliced across it.
Flesh parted. Blood flowed.
Bright red liquid streamed into the silver cups below, forming a thin but scorching layer.
This was the blood of the Quincy progenitor—the source and symbol of their power.
Filling each cup halfway, Yhwach rotated his hand and pressed a cloth against the wound, then stepped back.
With a subtle nod of the chin, he gestured to Haschwalth—
—No need to wait.
Haschwalth handed the cups to Seiya and Uryū.
The scent of blood, sharp and metallic, stung the senses—a stark contrast.
"Drink, my children."
"This is the power I bestow upon you. It will become our bond."
"From today forward, we share the same fate, the same goal. We will walk the true path together—united by life and death."
Every Sternritter underwent this rite.
As Seiya had explained before, through receiving Yhwach's blood, Quincies obtained their unique powers.
But with that power came a curse.
Infection by Yhwach's blood meant complete spiritual vulnerability to him.
Your strength was no longer your own. Yhwach, at the Quincy's summit, would hold total dominion over you.
To give or take—at his whim.
A high price, indeed. But still, people accepted it.
(Even Robert Accutrone, the "KFC Grandpa" in the original story, met his end through Auswählen.)
Hard to judge their choice—but for Seiya and Uryū, this was all part of the plan.
No hesitation. After a brief pause, they raised the goblets in silent unity—
And drank.
Then the strange began.
The foul taste of blood, instead of making them gag, seemed to dissolve immediately—like a pure stream trickling smoothly down their throats.
Their bodies reacted like finely tuned machines suddenly switched to overdrive.
What should have taken time to digest was absorbed in a heartbeat.
Blood surged.
Through limbs, into every cell—filling them with extraordinary energy.
Yhwach's power had flooded their bodies.
On the left, Uryū's face twisted in pain. He groaned, dropped the silver cup.
Staggering, dazed.
But after those brief seconds, he stabilized.
Streams of Reishi became visible around his body—proof his power was now too immense to contain.
Like Aizen Sōsuke—though the latter's control far surpassed his.
Sweat trickled down Uryū's brow. His eyes narrowed. After a rapid heartbeat—
He calmed.
A divine insight settled within him. He instantly grasped his gains.
The growth was exhilarating—almost unreal.
But beyond raw power came something more:
The understanding of Vollständig—
And the ability tied to his Schrift.
Given the letter "A," he now stood at the same rank as Yhwach.
Antithesis.
The power to reverse any damage, any influence, or any current state—and reflect it back on the enemy.
Yhwach's face changed.
Perhaps sensing instability, his expression lost its smile and hardened into something predatory.
"..."
The progenitor had sensed a "threat" in his so-called offspring.
His blood-red eyes locked onto Uryū. Caution urged drastic action—but after a moment's silence, he chose to ignore it.
A dangerous variable, yes—but one he needed to invade Soul Society.
If a king couldn't wield unstable tools, what king was he?
The grand design—the Thousand-Year Blood War—would not shift for one anomaly.
"Well done, Uryū Ishida."
Spoken with a smile many present couldn't understand, Yhwach's lips curled again.
In response, Uryū respectfully bowed his head.
"It's my honor, Your Majesty..."
Temporary submission—for a greater, distant goal.
The two conspirators were like stones cast in wide arcs.
Different paths, same destination—sinking into the same deep lake.
With Uryū's rite done, Yhwach turned his gaze to the other man.
Not because Seiya's transformation was slower—
But because it had been instant.
From the moment Yhwach's blood entered him, Seiya had already absorbed it all.
No pain. No discomfort.
And in his clarity, before the progenitor of the Quincies, Seiya stood completely exposed.
"Just as I suspected..."
Yhwach's eyes narrowed, a smug grin on his face.
"My blood didn't awaken your power—it merely drew out what was already there. Heh... just like those other two."
"Seiya Arima, within you, I see something I despise—and yet must rely on."
Fascinating.
A controllable tool was always better than a blade that cuts the wielder.
Yhwach's grin widened unconsciously.
Normally, Schriften do not overlap—but exceptions exist.
Seiya was one of them.
"So then, let all bear witness. What is your Schrift?"
Unlike Uryū, Seiya's assignment came a bit suddenly—
But he had no room to refuse. With a simple nod, he stood.
Glancing back.
"My Schrift..."
"Is D."
"Dominate."
Askin, off to the side and brewing coffee, couldn't help but let out a surprised grunt.
"Huh? That can overlap with mine?"
Yhwach didn't scold the interruption. He merely smiled and added:
"It's fine. No two Sternritter have the same ability. You are all unique... That's what matters."
With this new strength—
Yhwach's plans evolved.
So then, gentlemen.
"By the name of the king of the Invisible Empire, I grant Seiya Arima and Uryū Ishida the title of Royal Guards."
This was no surprise—many had already witnessed their potential.
Bypassing the ranks of others and becoming personal protectors of the king—
Was Yhwach's affirmation of their power.
But what followed was more shocking.
"Though earlier than expected, the Sternritter are now strong enough..."
"I've waited too long. My patience is exhausted."
"Prepare yourselves."
The long-planned counterattack—toward the defeat from a thousand years ago—was about to begin.
"The time has come to strike back against our enemy... the Soul Society."
----------
Powerstones?
For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates