Chapter 487: Captain vs. Captain
As heavy footsteps, sharp gusts, and hearty laughter echoed from the distance, a surging black tide burst onto the horizon, roaring down the wide avenue like a flood.
This elite force of more than a dozen warriors stormed into the square—a place where only the strong could stand—and then pressed straight toward the outskirts of Silbern.
They slowed as they reached the battlefield where the Quincies had once fought and fled. The sight caught Haschwalth’s eye.
Those familiar figures stirred a faint sense of nostalgia within him.
Such a powerful force, such unstoppable momentum—he had experienced it before. And yet now, to see it unfold on the soil of the Wandenreich... the irony was almost cruel.
"What’s going on? Shouldn’t it be king against king, captain against captain?"
Haschwalth quickly calmed himself. Though the sudden appearance of the fallen caught him off guard, there was no need for panic—as long as they could wipe out the invaders in one stroke.
"They are fearsome warriors too. Masatsuki Aozaki never said anything about one-on-one duels."
Askin remained composed, busily calculating variables in his mind.
Doubt crept into Haschwalth’s heart. After all, these were the ones who had brought down his predecessors.
"They once wiped out an entire legion... and now there are even more unfamiliar faces. I’m not sure we can hold them back."
His tone was grim, his expression heavy.
"Their numbers alone complicate my calculations. And those new faces among them... they’re no pushovers."
Askin’s gaze fell on Rangiku Matsumoto, Nelliel, and Lilynette, who had joined the ranks of the original captains. His expression darkened.
Haschwalth stayed silent. If the enemy wanted a head-on clash, then so be it.
At least, thanks to His Majesty’s foresight, the Wandenreich had gained greater strength than ever at the first sign of attack.
The invaders were strong and many, but even with just the two of them, it might still be a fight worth taking.
However, when he saw a flash of light and a soul stream into Yhwach’s body, Haschwalth’s eyes narrowed slightly.
That soul had been summoned through Auswählen. And it looked like Yhwach was slowly being pushed back by Masatsuki Aozaki.
He took a deep breath, steadying himself.
No matter what, they would fight with everything they had—for the Wandenreich, for their beliefs.
For the one person who truly acknowledged his existence: the "King of the Quincy," his supreme lord, the one he must protect above all.
On one side was His Majesty, locked in battle with a powerful foe. On the other was himself, deep in enemy lines. Thousands of meters of pure white terrain separated them, both caught in precarious positions.
His Majesty had been forced to use Auswählen—there was no doubt he was being overwhelmed in this clash of kings.
And now Haschwalth found himself surrounded, facing warriors who had once crushed entire armies.
It was a dire situation. Perhaps their story would end here.
Yet for some reason, a faint sorrow welled up in Haschwalth’s heart.
"To face overwhelming odds, to display our valor, to guard His Majesty’s glory—this is the epic that belongs to heroes!"
Clad in white, Haschwalth raised the Freund Schild and, without looking back, charged straight into the enemy ranks.
He didn’t hesitate for even a second.
While praise from one’s elders shouldn’t come too easily... I have to say, the way you charged in—it really did look cool.
Askin let out a snort, but couldn’t help feeling impressed. This half of His Majesty’s power was no joke.
No, he’d always been strong. Despite his delicate appearance, his strength was undeniable—arguably the strongest beneath the Emperor in the Wandenreich.
But while he could move so freely, others had it rough.
If Askin tried that kind of reckless charge, he’d probably be hacked to pieces by those original captains without a second thought.
Askin’s Schrift was "D," representing "The Death Dealing."
Through precise analysis, detailed comparison, and subtle manipulation of an individual’s environment, he could disrupt the balance between a person and their surroundings.
Even in extremely disadvantageous situations, Askin could absorb the Reishi generated when opponents injured him.
During this process, his body would instinctively analyze their Reiatsu and gain resistance to it.
Simply put, just like how the same attack doesn’t work twice on Saint Seiya, the same type of Reishi damage stops working on Askin.
However, faced with over a dozen vicious enemies, there was no way they’d give him enough time to adapt.
"Vollständig — Hasshein!"
With a deep shout, Askin activated his Vollständig without hesitation.
In an instant, his entire body was enveloped in complex molecular structures. A star-cross halo composed of molecular formulas appeared above his head, while twin light-wings extended from his shoulders, their forms woven with interlocking molecular patterns.
Facing such powerful opponents, he knew there was no room for the slightest carelessness.
Just then, a mask silently slid over Askin’s eyes. At his sides appeared two women, each with a mass-produced Hōgyoku embedded in her chest.
Their faces looked somewhat familiar. Askin quickly recognized them as former captains from the original Gotei 13.
Upon closer inspection, he realized who they were—wasn’t that Batsuunsei Katori and Furōfushi Saitō, the very ones who had participated in the Quincy massacre a thousand years ago?
These striking women raised their long swords and lunged at Askin.
The blades in their hands gleamed with overwhelming Reiatsu, the intensity surpassing even their strength from a millennium ago—beyond what a Shinigami’s life should be able to contain.
...
Meanwhile, Haschwalth was also locked in a fierce battle.
Led by Rangiku Matsumoto and Retsu Unohana, the original Gotei 13 fighters launched a relentless assault on him.
Each of them was a seasoned warrior, well-versed in exploiting their strengths to strike down their enemies.
They didn’t clash head-on with Haschwalth’s longsword. Instead, they skillfully evaded its edge, patiently waiting for the right moment to counter.
Haschwalth cursed inwardly.
Even with the power boost from Auswählen, the sheer number of enemies was overwhelming.
Every member of the original Gotei 13 was a powerhouse in their own right, making it incredibly difficult to fend them all off.
Fortunately, the force of The Balance still posed a threat to them, and the Sternritter who had noticed the battle unfolding began arriving to assist.
Even so, Haschwalth’s body was accumulating more and more wounds.
Blood streamed down his figure, soaking the ground beneath him.