The Thousand-Year Blood War Arc in Bleach concludes the manga, although it is finally receiving an anime adaptation nearly half a decade after its completion. The main villains in this arc are the Sternritter, led by Yhwach, which consists of a group of Quincy warriors, unlike anything that Soul Society has seen before.
Each Sternritter is as strong as a Gotei 13 Captain, and that's excluding the four premier members that take their place by Yhwach's side during the Royal Realm battle. These characters are known as the Schutzstaffel, a term that draws more than just a nominal comparison with the Nazi organization. All of them are individually powerful, but even their combined might is overshadowed by Yhwach.
10 There Are Four Schutzstaffel — Pernida, Askin, Lille, & Gerard
There are four Sternritter promoted to be Yhwach's personal bodyguards, the Schutzstaffel, Pernida Parnkgjas, Askin Nakk Le Vaar, Lille Barro, and Gerard Valkyrie. Each of them is chosen because of their incredible Schrifts, and they make an excellent counter to the overwhelming Zero Squad.
Between them, they can control objects, manipulate death, and turn into literal gods. It's no wonder that the Royal Guard is effortlessly defeated by the Schutzstaffel.
9 Lille Barro Receives His Schrift Before Anyone Else
Lille Barro claims to be first of all Quincy blessed with one of Yhwach's Schrift (which doesn't make sense because those people rarely have more than a few years to live).
In any case, Lille is the only member of the Schutzstaffel who is arrogant enough to refer to himself as a masterpiece, further adding that he has the powers of a god. Lille mocks Shunsui, saying that his bankai, however impressive, is no match for Jilliel.
8 Pernida Parnkgjas Is The Soul King's Left Hand
Pernida Parnkgjas is the diametric opposite Mimihagi, the Rukongai deity that represents the right hand of the Soul King. Why it has decided to side with Yhwach, or how the Quincy Father even found it remains unknown, but Pernida is all for Yhwach's destruction of the Royal Realm.
Interestingly, Pernida is one of the only two Quincy who is not powerless before meeting Yhwach, suggesting that it followed him on its own volition.
7 Gerard Valkyrie Gives Off Powerful Thor Vibes
The s0-called heart of the Soul King, Gerard Valkyrie is an ode to Scandinavian myth from whichever angle one looks at it. His Asgard-themed outfit, cape, helmet, sword, and shield only make the comparison more obvious.
Gerard, like Thor, is quite self-assured in his abilities, but it's the long blond hair that makes the connection. Also, his surname, Valkyrie, refers to those Nordic figures who apparently ferry the brave and triumphant to Valhalla.
6 Askin Nakk Le Vaar Is Promoted From The Sternritter
Askin is not like the other three in that he was not always intended to be a member of the Schutzstaffel. It seems that his hard work and intelligent strategies have caught Yhwach's eye, partly explaining the promotion.
In addition, Askin's The Deathdealing is far more dangerous and efficient than most of the other Sternritter, whose Schrifts are often one-dimensional (à la Bazz-B's Burner Finger.)
5 Lille's Jilliel Almost Defeats Shunsui Kyoraku
Lille is forced into Vollständig mode by Katen Kyokotsu: Karamatsu Shinju, transmuting into a gigantic angle with a shimmering octet of wings keeping Lille afloat. Known as Jilliel, this form allows the Quincy to practically teleport from one location to another, as well as greatly magnify the force of his X-Axis.
More importantly, Lille's Jilliel is somehow capable of manifesting an intangible state, in which there is no attack of Kyoraku's that can actually strike him. Lille undergoes a secondary, far more horrifying evolution, but Nanao and her Shinken Hakkyoken save the day.
4 Pernida Can Puppeteer Anything It Wants
Pernida Parnkgjas' The Compulsory involves firing a series of nerve endings deep into human bodies, thereby controlling its opponents with great precision. This Schrift is so great that it has actually managed to destroy the arms of two of the most powerful Shinigami in Soul Society, Yoruichi, and Kenpachi.
What's worse is that The Compulsory can also be used on inanimate objects, such as walls, towers, and other pieces of architecture. Mayuri is lucky that Nemu is with him at the time.
3 Gerard's Aschetonig Is Literally Invincible
Gerard Valkyrie probably has the most powerful Vollständig of all — Aschetonig, which translates to mean "Power of God." This augments his already ridiculous power levels by several magnitudes, and he grows a Nordic helmet that covers part of his face (there's also a new beard).
While his sword remains as powerful as ever in striking power, this version shows that Hoffnung can now produce energy explosions so potent that it nearly breaks a sky-city in half.
2 Askin Nearly Manages To Kill Urahara Kisuke
At the end of their grueling battle, Askin starts to realize that Urahara is a shade more skilled than he is, and his bankai, Benihime Atarame, is a paradoxical force of nature that the Quincy has zero defense against. Askin increases his Gift Ball Deluxe, which temporarily neutralizes Urahara.
Thankfully, Grimmjow appears at the last minute to kill the Quincy and save the Shinigami. However, it seems that the Gift Ball Deluxe is going to get more powerful if Askin dies, which means the manga leaves Urahara's fate unclear.
1 The Existence Of The Schutzstaffel Is Ultimately Meaningless
There are actually five Schutzstaffel to be technical, but Nianzol Weizol is coldly speared by Senjumaru Shutara. The others are subsequently killed by Nimaiya Oetsu alone, but Yhwach brings the Schutzstaffel back by stealing from the Sternritter still fighting in Soul Society.
Yhwach cares about neither group, to be honest, because when he absorbs the Soul King, he does the same to Haschwalth and Gerard (who aren't exactly near death).
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