Chapter Forty: The Curse

“Oh, another astonishing statement.” A mocking smile appeared on Chojirou’s face.

“Are you saying I’m destined to lose?”

…

Saedritz’s hand paused on his eyepatch, then he spoke in a low voice, “Of course. Because the power you’re facing is not just that of a Quincy.”

“Not just a Quincy?”

What does that mean? Does it mean the Quincy have allied with Hueco Mundo? No, as a race capable of erasing Hollows completely, the grudge between them isn’t something that can be resolved with a few words. Reconciliation and peaceful coexistence are nothing but a joke.

So, does that mean there are Shinigami among them who support the Quincy’s actions?

“Are you aware?” Saedritz moved his hand behind his head, beginning to undo something.

“The so-called ‘Impossible Marriage Alliance.’”

Chojirou raised an eyebrow slightly. He had heard of the “Impossible Marriage Alliance.” Two hundred years ago, it was proposed by a great noble as a path toward reconciliation with the human Quincy—a political marriage. Both sides had initially agreed to it.

But then, one night, the Quincy bride, one of the main parties, was unexpectedly murdered by her Shinigami husband. The Quincy were enraged. What had promised to be a harmonious alliance crumbled entirely.

Thus, the rift between Shinigami and Quincy became irreparable. Though the Shinigami side tried to propose reconciliation again, they were met with severe rejection. The Quincy even killed a member of Central 46 sent for negotiations, making their stance clear.

This laid the foundation for war.

“My father disappeared after killing my mother. Even Soul Society hasn’t found any trace of him,” Saedritz continued, still working at whatever was behind his head.

“But none of that matters.” His voice was devoid of emotion, as if he’d long grown accustomed to his mother’s death.

“The child born of a human Quincy and a Shinigami spirit inherits both their powers.”

“And so, comes the ‘choice.’”

“Choice?”

Chojirou had never heard of this. From his intelligence, Ichigo was likely such a child, born of a Shinigami and a Quincy, yet Ichigo hadn’t displayed anything out of the ordinary.

“At the moment of awakening, if the child chooses the power of the Shinigami, the Quincy power will slumber within, awaiting awakening or remaining silent forever.”

“But if the Quincy’s power is chosen, what awaits…”

Saedritz finally removed his eyepatch, revealing his left eye for the first time. The eye was pitch-black, except for the pupil, which glowed a strange yellow, and within the yellow, a small black cross.

“It is a ‘curse.’” He tossed the eyepatch to the ground, his voice icy as he continued.

“As a human, it’s impossible to keep the Shinigami power suppressed forever. Over time, that power gradually erodes the body, destroying its functions, until at last you become a spirit with spiritual power—”

His gaze was filled with unconcealed disgust and contempt. Saedritz clenched his fist.

“In other words, you become a ‘Shinigami.’”

!!

Now Chojirou was truly shocked. He’d never even heard of such a thing.

“They’re truly despicable beings, aren’t they?” Saedritz raised his hand, as if overwhelmed with infinite hatred, gritting his teeth and snarling, “No matter which you choose, in the end you become a Shinigami. There’s no path left for us Quincy. You must have foreseen this outcome long ago, haven’t you?”

“Even the marriage alliance—it was all just a scheme to assimilate us, wasn’t it?”

“How utterly vile, Shinigami.”

With a snap, Saedritz extended his arm, and the Quincy cross at his wrist once again blossomed into five petal-like bows.

“There’s no reason to let you live any longer.”

“Although I can’t exactly understand how you feel…” Chojirou flicked his blade, then gripped the scabbard at his waist with his other hand, stepping forward.

“But I can’t ignore your provocation.”

Not only his spiritual pressure, but his very presence had reached its peak.

“You’ll be silent soon enough.”

Saedritz raised his other hand, and an identical petal-shaped bow appeared at that wrist as well.

“‘Dead End Quartet.’”

Whoosh, whoosh!

Both bows fired a barrage of spirit arrows, completely enveloping Chojirou.

“Guh…”

With all four directions sealed, Chojirou had no chance to dodge.

Boom!

If it were Shigekuni Yamamoto in this situation, he would cloak himself in flames and force his way through the encirclement. But Chojirou was not yet able to shroud himself fully in lightning.

So he chose a simpler tactic.

He retreated.

Since the attack came from ahead, no matter how complete the coverage, the rear would always be thinner. Chojirou enveloped his blade with lightning and used shunpo to retreat swiftly.

But his idea was too simplistic.

If Chojirou could see this opening, Saedritz, the attacker, would have already anticipated it.

Whoever exploited the opening faster would have the upper hand.

Swish!

Evidently, Saedritz, who had yet to reveal his true strength, seized the opportunity. In an instant, he appeared behind Chojirou, his hand glowing red and extended toward him.

!!!!

Boom!

A massive red fireball engulfed Chojirou, illuminating the darkness.

Panting, Chojirou barely managed to escape the fireball, looking utterly disheveled. His face was smeared with grime, and the sleeve of his left arm was reduced to ashes, revealing a burned arm.

Tap.

Saedritz landed expressionlessly, his cursed black eye fixed mercilessly on Chojirou.

“Shunpo, Akahō… Those aren’t abilities a Quincy should have, you bastard…”

Chojirou forced a smile as he looked at Saedritz, for the first time realizing the opponent before him was no ordinary foe.

“My eye contains the power of a Shinigami. Otherwise, how do you think we move freely through Soul Society, or so easily undo the binding spells you use?”

Saedritz raised his hand again, the petal-shaped bow forming at his wrist.

“Now, you may rest in peace.”

His eyes glinted with cold killing intent.

“That may be so…” Chojirou wiped the grime from his face, looking at Saedritz. “You seem to know much about the Shinigami.”

“But do you truly…”

“Comprehend the full extent of a Shinigami’s power?”

!

Indeed, as a Quincy who possessed the powers of a Shinigami, there was a force he could never truly understand, much less wield—

“Bankai…”