Bleach: From the moment I was invited by Squad Zero

Chapter 88 Hasward's Shock

Soul Society, Seireitei, Eighth Division Barracks.

The heavy atmosphere in the captain's room gradually subsided and dissipated as the unusual movement of the "Divine Sword - Eight Mirrors Sword" on the sword rack in the corner subsided.

The strange movements flowing through the Eight Mirrors Sword receded like the receding tide, eventually disappearing completely and returning to its original form as a warm and simple, bladeless jade ruler, seemingly just an ancient ritual object.

The hum of the sword also subsided, with only the tassel swaying very slightly in the breeze coming through the window.

Kyoraku Shunsui slowly lowered his hand, which had been hovering above the Eight Mirrors Sword.

The unusual solemnity on his face had not completely faded, but his brows had relaxed slightly.

He walked to the window, picked up the wine glass he had put down earlier, tilted his head back and drank the remaining wine in one gulp. The cold liquid slid down his throat, but it seemed unable to completely suppress the doubts in his heart.

"The commotion—it's stopped." He muttered to himself, his gaze drifting towards the general direction of the void outside the window. Although he couldn't see anything across the endless space, "The fact that the Eight Mirror Swords reacted has now subsided—it seems the battle over there has come to an end?"

"Nanao," Kyoraku Shunsui suddenly asked, his tone regaining some of its usual laziness, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp, "tell me, what kind of power could affect this Eight Mirrors Sword, which is specifically designed to counter 'divine power,' to this extent?"

Ise Nanao adjusted her glasses and calmly analyzed, "According to the family records, the Eight Mirrors Sword only reacts strongly to powers with special properties and sacred attributes."

The disturbance subsided either because the target's power disappeared or was completely suppressed, or because it was too far away or was strongly concealed.

I speculate that it is highly likely that Lord Yanagawa and his target have reached a decisive victory, and the victor—most likely—has eliminated the source of the power that triggered the Eight Mirrors Sword.”

"Control or eliminate it, huh? —" Kyoraku Shunsui smiled noncommittally, placing the empty glass back on the table. "That Yanagawa guy, he always manages to surprise us."

The Invisible Empire, the Palace of Ice.

Yugaran Hasward remained seated beside the throne, his icy blue eyes calmly gazing ahead, as if contemplating the future of the empire, or perhaps simply lost in thought.

Yaskin Nakruvar leaned against an icicle, listlessly tossing the strange die with a cynical smile on his lips.

suddenly--

Hasward, who was sitting upright, shuddered violently.

This action caused Askin, who seemed absent-minded, to stop throwing and catching the dice instantly, and the dice landed in his palm with a "snap".

His smile faded, and beneath the slightly curled bangs on his forehead, his eyes sharpened as he stared intently at Hasward.

Because, in Askin's mind, only someone who could keep the Sternritter calm and composed, seemingly unfazed even when the sky were falling, could do so.

The only possible explanation for His Majesty's most trusted lieutenant's obvious physical reaction is either directly related to His Majesty or involves the life or death of other Holy Knights!

Hasward's usually exquisite, ice-sculpted face now seemed to have cracked open like a millennia-old glacier, revealing an expression of "shock" and "disbelief".

"—Disappeared."

"What disappeared?" Ashkin asked immediately, his ominous premonition growing stronger. He instinctively gripped the dice in his hand.

Hasward's gaze seemed to pierce through the walls of the Ice Palace, directed towards an extremely distant direction, as he slowly said, "The connection and feedback bestowed by His Majesty—the Holy Script X—has completely vanished."

"What—?!" Askin's pupils shrank sharply, and the relaxed expression that had been on his face froze completely, replaced by a shock that was a mixture of horror and absurdity.

"Lijie Barrow?! That guy who boasted that he was His Majesty's greatest masterpiece, the closest to God—his sacred text connection—has disappeared?! How is this possible?! Could it be that he—"

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.

The sacred script was directly bestowed by His Majesty and is bound to the Quincy's soul. Unless His Majesty personally takes it back, or—the host dies and the soul is completely annihilated—the connection will never be severed without cause!

"It seems our plan—" Hasward closed his eyes, as if trying to calm the rare turmoil in his heart.

He opened his eyes again a few seconds later, his eyes now displaying their usual coldness and absolute rationality, but beneath that coldness lay a deeper gravity and scrutiny.

"A major unexpected event occurred that we had not anticipated at all. Litt Barrow — failed."

"Defeat? Lost to that young Shinigami from the Zero Division?"

Askin's voice rose, filled with disbelief, "We all know how strong Lijie is! Even if the opponent is the Zero Division, Lijie's Universal Connection," in his Perfected Body state, should theoretically be enough to deal with most situations!

That young Grim Reaper named Yanagawa—just what kind of monster is he?!

Hasward paused for a moment, seemingly reassessing all the known information.

When he spoke again, his voice had completely regained its calmness and order, but the order he gave foreshadowed a huge shift in the future policy of the Invisible Empire: "The intelligence was wrong, the assessment was insufficient, and we seriously underestimated the strength of this new member of the Zero Squad—Yanagawa."

He is capable of directly defeating, and may even completely eliminate, Rijie Barrow, who possesses the "Sacred Script X." Therefore, his threat level must be raised.

He paused, then continued, "Since the 'key' capture plan has failed..."

The most urgent task is to clean up the mess and eliminate all clues that might lead to the Empire. We must not give the Soul Society, especially the Zero Division, a chance to trace our origins back to us.

"From this moment forward," Hasward's voice, carrying an undeniable resolve, echoed through the cold palace, "the entire Invisible Empire, enter the highest level of silence and closure."

Recall all members on non-essential missions, freeze all potential infiltration and covert operations, and strengthen the concealment barriers around all outposts and the Ice Palace.

"Until we receive new, clear instructions from His Majesty, all proactive actions against Soul Society and the Zero Division shall cease."

Yaskin took a deep breath, suppressing his shock, and nodded.

He knew that Hasward's judgment was correct.

The defeat of Lijie Barrow was not only the loss of an important fighting force, but also meant that their plan against "King Key" was completely exposed and thwarted, and that the enemy's strength far exceeded expectations.

Continuing to act at this point would be extremely risky.

"Understood," Askin replied in a deep voice, his carefree smile returning to his face, but this time, it carried a hint of cold killing intent.

"We'll remember this debt, and the grudge against Li Jie—"

"Wait for the right moment," Hasward interrupted Askin.

"Until His Majesty returns and bestows upon us new guidance, patience and concealment are our only principles. Pass down the order."

""

"Yes."

Yaskin accepted the order, turned and quickly left, his figure disappearing at the end of the ice palace corridor.

Haschward sat alone, his gaze once again fixed on the direction of Hueco Mundo, remaining silent for a long time.