Chapter 222: Quilge Opie's Fall—The Infiltrated Las Noches
"So this is the Quincy Vollständig?"
Fiander stood extraordinarily close to Quilge Opie—less than one meter separated them. Fiander could even detect clearly that the spirit particles surrounding him were pouring directly into his opponent's body.
Different from the arrogance displayed by other Quincy, Quilge Opie felt profound wariness toward Fiander, whose Reiatsu couldn't be perceived. He understood that even deploying all his capabilities, he couldn't defeat the enemy before him. However, regardless, His Majesty and the others were positioned elsewhere. He must restrain him here.
"Heilig Pfeil!"
The enormous arrow of light gathered from spirit particles had just condensed within Quilge Opie's hands. Just as he prepared releasing it, he discovered his hand seemed grasped by tremendous force. When he reacted, the enemy who'd been before him had vanished, materializing directly above.
"Damn it!" Quilge Opie attempted creating distance between them, but he realized that each time he moved, the other party clung to him like a persistent parasite. Yet he displayed no intention of attacking whatsoever—as though from beginning to end, he was simply observing Quilge's bodily structure.
Is this treating me as a research subject? Quilge Opie's complexion flushed crimson. The muscles across his face twitched slightly.
"Excessive bullying! Excessive bullying!"
Quilge Opie continued roaring. The Reiatsu surrounding him began spiraling chaotically. A spirit particle vortex began using Quilge Opie's body as its medium.
Soon, all spirit particles within the surrounding atmosphere poured into Quilge Opie's body. The powerful suction of the spirit particle vortex even made Fiander sense crisis.
At that moment, within Ichimaru Gin and Inoue's perception, the battle zone where Fiander was positioned had become an ocean of spirit particle substructures. Nothing could be discerned clearly except a sea of brilliant luminescence.
"This... why do these Quincy employ combat methods completely different from Ishida's?"
Hearing Inoue Orihime's inquiry, Ichimaru Gin appeared thoughtful before responding calmly: "It seems the Quincy inheritance isn't uniform. According to Lord Fiander's explanation, this group called the Sternritter represents a special advancement system. Each of their existences possesses unique significance—all endowed with special powers called 'Schrift' by the Quincy ancestor, Yhwach!"
"So that's it?" Inoue immediately displayed sudden comprehension. After all, within her impression, Quincy combat always involved distant archery with elegant, composed demeanor.
Clearly, Inoue regarded Ishida's battle template as the inherent pattern for all Quincy. However, this combat method only existed when both sides possessed equal strength or the gap wasn't substantial. Victory could be achieved through peculiar footwork and various techniques.
When the level disparity between both parties proved too tremendous, all skills—even abilities and methods—couldn't compensate.
BOOM!
Instantaneously, an azure beam of light shot skyward, directly piercing through the dark clouds above. Even the zenith was enveloped by this light pillar.
Soon, the surrounding temperature began plummeting. The blue light pillar transformed into an icicle. The crystalline structure shattered explosively.
Accompanied by the crackling sound of shattering ice, the two individuals at the battlefield's center finally revealed their forms. Fiander gripped Quilge Opie's throat with one hand—the Quincy having reverted to his original form—lifting him high. Within his cold eyes, not a trace of emotion could be perceived.
"Did you intend using Sklaverei to forcibly absorb me? What truly audacious behavior. However, you never considered—are you even worthy?"
Fiander exhaled frigid air slowly. An ice blade materialized within Fiander's grasp. "It appears your so-called Vollständig amounts to nothing substantial. You came here to provoke me? Does Yhwach regard me as Soul Society's trash?"
Splurt—
After speaking, Fiander plunged the ice blade into Quilge Opie's body, then discarded his opponent upon the sand like a dead dog. No need existed for deliberate cleanup—the Hollows here would consume him entirely.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Fiander brushed the bloodstains from his hands with obvious disgust, then regarded Ichimaru Gin's direction and declared: "Prepare yourself, Gin!"
"Let's proceed to the outer perimeter. Ulquiorra appears to be confronting those individuals alongside the other Espada!"
"Yes!"
Ichimaru Gin nodded, then addressed Inoue positioned beside him: "You should return to Las Noches first. You needn't participate in the following battles!"
"Alright!" After Inoue nodded toward Ichimaru Gin, she prepared turning to depart when Quilge Opie—who should have lost consciousness—held his final breath and suddenly opened his eyes, releasing the residual Reiatsu within his body toward Fiander.
Soon, a circular spiritual cage surrounded Fiander instantaneously. The strip-like seals formed by spirit particles locked down the surrounding space. Even Arrancar couldn't utilize Garganta to escape this cage.
"Haha... hahaha..."
Quilge Opie sneered wantonly while spitting blood from his mouth: "I am Quilge Opie, bestowed with the holy letter [J] by His Majesty—signifying Jail. So what if you're stronger than me? If you're imprisoned by my ability, regardless of anything..."
Quilge Opie's arrogant voice hadn't concluded yet when a sound like shattering glass resonated. Fiander—who was supposedly confined within the prison—simply waved his hand lightly. This final trump card was destroyed so thoroughly.
Quilge Opie felt completely numb. He stood stunned, utterly incapable of speaking. However, Fiander—who'd been imprisoned for mere seconds—appeared extraordinarily displeased.
Fiander understood this technique had tormented Kurosaki Ichigo sufficiently initially. Had the Quincy blood within Ichigo's body not manifested ultimately, the other party might not have broken through this prison.
Yet he could eliminate it easily. His body possessed the same source as the Quincy soul—the manifestation of the Soul King's original power.
"You're such a troublesome piece of garbage!"
Fiander approached Quilge Opie directly and swung the Zanpakutō from his waist without hesitation.
SLASH—
As Fiander's blade energy pierced the heavens, the dark clouds above dispersed instantly. Quilge Opie, standing in position, was cleaved in two. His upper body vaporized and dissipated directly. Only fragments fell to the ground.
After returning his Zanpakutō to its scabbard, Fiander sensed something profoundly wrong. He quickly addressed Ichimaru Gin: "Gin, proceed to Las Noches immediately! Their objective is the Muken sealing Aizen!"
"So that's their purpose?"
Ichimaru Gin frowned. His figure transformed into an afterimage and vanished instantly.
Sensing Ichimaru Gin's departure, Fiander grinned and spoke with a cold sneer: "Is this your intention? Then let us meet properly, Yhwach..."