Chapter 114 - 24-26

Chapter 24: Soul Society, Part 6

What madness was this?

It was the same for every Shinigami staring forth at the monster before them. Covered in blood, wounds, and cuts that were already visibly healing, this monster of a hollow didn't show any signs of fatigue after such a grand spectacle. Instead, those bronze orbs of his stared daggers into those present as if mocking them for their cowardice.

Those hollows behind the Vasto of White were all still emitting a terrifying air of bloodlust despite the injuries that covered them from head to toe. But the Shinigami present weren't mistaken.

Just because those hollows looked injured didn't mean that they were no longer dangerous, rather, it was the opposite. Those hollows still alive were the survivors of the charge. The strongest of the bunch, the elite in fighting capabilities.

To top it off, there were two other Vasto Lordes in the group. One like a humanoid shark, her gaze sharp, and her shark-fin blade coated in a layer of yellow spiritual energy that pulsed with power.

The other, bat-like and bathed in a dim green glow that was pressuring the weaker Shinigami to their knees.

The newest addition of the other three Vasto Lordes wouldn't make much of a difference as it was clear that their spiritual energy had all but been depleted. Yet it didn't matter, for they were now standing defended behind the back of their King, their Vasto of White.

From the shaking of the Shinigami's swords, it was evident that the sight that they had just seen previously from Shirou held a great significance to their Zanpakuto.

Those eyes. 

It was just the sheer number of them that Yamamoto and the rest had seen within that world of flame and steel that heavily disturbed them and froze their thought processes. They had never seen anything like it before, but there was something more about it. Something far more important.

After all, Yamamoto had a distinct feeling of familiarity at that moment. It was something each respective Shinigami present could understand.

One of those pairs of eyes that had stared back at Yamamoto from the depths of that world, were identical to the ones that resided within the spirit of Yamamoto's own inner world.

Ryujin Jakka

Yamamoto's hands clasped firmly onto the cane he had in front of him, his expression grave.

"Unohana," Yamamoto spoke in warning.

"I know, Head-Captain," Unohana replied grimly. "Most probably those eyes were-"

"H-Hyorinmaru!" Toshiro yelled in shock, the young Captain quickly analyzing the situation despite his injured state.

It was lucky for Toshiro in the previous battle that only an Ice Clone had been the one to suffer a debilitating attack, otherwise, he may not have been around an longer.

"Well isn't this interesting," Gin Ichimaru spoke, his eyes wide open, and an air of seriousness around him that was generally absent at other times.

No other captains that had rallied upon Yamamoto's orders and that were present made any comments. It wasn't necessary as they all now understood what it was that they had seen.

In that world of Steel and Flame, there were a boundless number of Zanpakuto spirits.

Putting this matter aside, based on the report Yamamoto had already read, it was clear that it was this Vasto of White leading the charge that was the addressed hollow: The one able to create Zanpakuto.

The need to kill this hollow now, only grew stronger from within Yamamoto. However, he knew that he would have to act before the other two groups of hollows converging on the location arrived.

As if sensing Yamamoto's intentions, Shirou already seemed prepared.

"Harribel," he called out steadily.

Harribel nodded before motioning for the other hollows to reveal what it was that was behind them.

"J-Jushiro!" Shunsui's expression hardened, his body moving forward involuntarily for the sake of his friend.

Yet, Shunsui was stopped by Unohana.

If Shunsui were to attack, then any chances of rescuing Jushiro Ukitake would be reduced significantly.

The situation was now a stalemate.

This was exactly what Shirou had wanted, and it was precisely because of this that he didn't bring out Jushiro earlier in the charge. If he had, then both sides would end up in a hostage situation in which the only way to resolve it would be an exchange. Now that Apacci, Sung-Sun, and Mila Rose were secured, it was Shirou's side that was at the advantage.

Knowing just how many hollows had sacrificed themselves for him, Shirou was now more than inclined to avenge them. However, at this moment, he was more concerned with getting them out alive. And that would mean placing some faith in Aizen, and whatever plan he had to get them out safely.

For such a means, he would buy Aizen some time, confident that Aizen wouldn't wish to make an enemy out of him.

By the time, Ichigo woke from his unconsciousness, the steady pressure of the air on his face was deafening.

It felt as if he was falling, but more than that, he quickly realized that he actually was falling; the ground appearing rapidly in front of him and looking as if it would reduce him to paste in his weakened state.

He struggled uselessly, trying to move his body, but all his effort only earned him a knock on his already injured head.

"What the fuck, stay still Ichigo," a voice entered his ears, yet grew annoyed when he just realized who hit him.

"What the hell's your problem?" Ichigo complained as he took a moment to realize that he was being carried within one of Starrk's arms. "Can't you show a little care for an injured man?"

The wounds on Ichigo's body ached, the dried blood caking off from the smallest of movements.

"You're alive, aren't you? Don't you just heal naturally then?" Lilynette looked at Ichigo in bewilderment.

It was Starrk who sighed as result.

Starrk knew of Lilynette's ignorance in regard to this kind of matter as she hardly met with any mortals or Shinigami within Hueco Mundo. As such, the norm when it came to healing injuries would be viewed like a hollow. So long as the hollow was alive and had enough spiritual energy, they could heal most wounds and even limbs with time. This was why Starrk didn't stop Lilynette from forcing in her hollow-type spiritual energy into Ichigo.

At that point, Starrk was just waiting for Lilynette's attempt to fail as he would rather not have to explain just why humans and Shinigami don't heal in the same way as hollows. Even more so about why it wasn't the best idea to give a hollow's spiritual energy to a Shinigami. Compared to regular spiritual energy, a hollow's spiritual energy was more violent and volatile, reflecting its destructive nature. Mixing that sort of energy in with the calm tranquil-type of spiritual energy Shinigami possess would cause a major rejection if not treated carefully. After all, there was a sort of boundary that had to be broken in order to allow for the mixing of the two polar opposite energies. Therefore, even if Lilynette wanted to give her spiritual energy to Ichigo, it would do no good.

It was just that, unexpectedly, the spiritual energy Lilynette was injecting into Ichigo was readily being absorbed. This was what caused Starrk's eyes to widen, and separate his attention in half from meeting up with Shirou and glancing at Ichigo.

It was too much of a mystery.

After all, just like a hollow, the amount of energy Lilynette had given him seemed to have the effect of a hollow's self healing on Ichigo. Under Lilynette's prompting, Starrk had even contributed a couple ceros worth of spiritual energy under his own curiosity. The result was an almost instant recovery on Ichigo's end; small wisps of black and red tinted energies swirling around him and leaving only a couple minor wounds on his person. And at some point, Starrk even had the impression of a hollow mask forming over Ichigo's. Porcelain like, with red tribal marks fashioned like a scar over the left eye, it was genuine. Yet, when Starrk wished to verify his findings, there was no longer any mask there.

It was in that moment that Ichigo woke up while Starrk was travelling swiftly. Having blown straight through a defensive perimeter the Shinigami had set up before.

"Since when would I heal like that?" Ichigo answered Lilynette's question in outrage, feeling indignant.

However, Lilynette curled her lips in disdain. From what she and Starrk had just seen earlier, it seemed to her as if Ichigo was messing with her after already taking a considerable amount of her spiritual energy to heal.

She turned her head, and began ignoring Ichigo, feeling peeved.

Starrk though was quickly drawing near to where Shirou and the others were, only, he paused in his strides when he sensed something in the direction of a large plateau. There, there was a wooden frame erected at the tip, and the land was relatively barren around it.

Sokyoku Hill, was what the Shinigami named the place.

However, what drew Starrk's attention was a glimmer of a lingering spiritual energy.

Shifting his gaze towards Shirou, Starrk was able to ascertain that the situation there was at a stand still. Therefore, he had some leeway as to what exactly he should do. Of course, this matter was settled in his mind when he took into account the other group of hollows both Nel and Brans were leading already towards Shirou.

His presence shouldn't affect the outcome much, and Starrk reasoned that with his power, he could arrive there if anything too out of control were to occur.

In which case, he prioritized the completion of their objective in the Seireitei in order to get out of here as fast as possible.

Unlike Shirou who had an understanding with Aizen, Starrk was still in the mindset of finding Silent. After all, it should have had been Shirou's first priority.

Therefore, he altered the path of his movements.

"Starrk? You're going the wrong way," Lilynette said while frowning.

"I sensed something," Starrk said, not explaining much.

After all, what he had sensed was the residue of a familiar spiritual energy. It was Silent's, and it was coming from a cave in the precipice of the hill.

"Hey, where are you taking me?" Ichigo asked. His injuries had stopped aching long ago, and he was growing impatient as he thought about what may have had happened to his friends and sister. "Hey wait up a second, what happened to everyone else?"

"After we separated from them, they left towards the tower over there," Lilynette grunted as if the answer was obvious. "Looking there now, it looks pretty lively."

It was the exact location where Ayon had appeared, and the area was now swarming with Shinigami and hollows with Shirou's arrival.

"Weren't we supposed to be going there, Starrk?" Lilynette asked, furrowing her brows.

"Lilynette, do you not feel it?" Starrk asked.

"What?"

"Never mind then," Starrk didn't bother explaining. Although Lilynette didn't make much of a fuss about it as she trusted Starrk, Ichigo did. Not only was he concerned about his friend's safety, but Karin was in the group too.

"Put me down," Ichigo demanded, thrashing within Starrk's grip.

Starrk took a moment to stare blankly at Ichigo before just shaking his head.

"Suit yourself,"

"Wait, what-?!"

Starrk released his grip and Ichigo plummeted to the ground.

"Ichigo you idiot!" Lilynette's voice trailed along soon after as she and Starrk disappeared.

Flailing in the air, it was only after a couple of seconds did Ichigo stabilize himself enough to remember trying to form something solid out of spiritual energy beneath his feet. Yet by then, it was already useless as he ended up by the foot of Sokyoku Hill, landing on the ground.

Cursing, Ichigo pushed himself up, and took a breath. Around him was a thick forest with hardly anyone in sight. However, from his position, he could feel the growing fluctuations of spiritual energy behind him. It was in the direction of the Isolation Tower Kukaku had been guiding everyone to.

As such, Ichigo could only envision what exactly happened to Kukaku and the rest. And based on the sight before his eyes, it wouldn't be anything good.

Clenching his fists, he flared his spiritual energy before running in that direction, only to stumble when a hand grabbed him from the underbrush.

"Shut up and just follow me," a voice whispered into Ichigo's ears.

As all attention was focusing on the confrontation between Shinigami and Hollows down near the Isolation Tower, Kukaku and the others had already made their way to Sokyoku Hill under Kaien's instructions.

After all, Sokyoku Hill was made from a type of durable rock that even Captain's would find difficult to destroy. Therefore, Kukaku believed Kaien when he said it would one of the safer places to hide out from the storm that was brewing in the Horizon. It was just that they had to find a shelter first.

"Over here," Karin said while pointing towards a naturally formed crevice at the foot of the hill.

Saying that, Karin disappeared inside, only to come out moments later saying that it was safe.

The interior of the crevice wasn't very spacious, and it was more a hallow cavity if anything, but at least it could fit them all.

Walking inside, Kukaku gently placed Kaien and Rukia down as the two still had their spiritual energy restrained by a collar tied around their necks. This made it hard for the two to run let alone walk as without their spiritual energy, they were left disorientated.

"Is this really alright?" Rukia asked, pulling her knees to her chest before leaning her weight over them.

"Then is that you'd rather die, Kuchiki?" Ishida looked incredulously at Rukia. "If we left you as it was, either you'd get killed by the Shinigami, or by the hollows. Here is obviously the best place as those people out there are monsters."

Ishida laughed dryly. "To think that I was so confident in facing them till now. It's an eye opener."

"Hey, we're not just gonna stay here, are we?" Karin pressed. "I can understand waiting until it calms down out there, but there's still something I need to do."

"By the end of this, either the Shinigami have won, or the hollows have wiped out a good portion of the Seireitei," Ganju said seriously. "By then, we'd be lucky just to make it out of here alive after what we're doing."

Kukaku clicked her tongue before taking out her smoke pipe and taking a long drag of it. "They can try, but they should know not to mess with a Shiba." Kukaku's eyes were fierce. "If they so much as try to force this matter, they'll understand just how much impact our Shiba clan's canon has."

"Karin," Orihime said, trying to console the girl who sat frozen in place.

Evidently, this wasn't the answer that Karin wanted to hear.

"What about Ichigo?" Chad asked. He had been silent for most of the trek, but now that the group was resting, he brought up the matter that most concerned him. Ichigo was his friend. Chad would have his back, and Ichigo would have his, therefore, they looked out for each other.

"He should be fine," Ishida answered. "Ichigo's tough, and that Vasto Lorde went with him so it's unlikely that they'd just let him die."

"But how would you know that they would actually help him?" Ganju asked.

"Maybe because of the child like hollow? She did seem to be on good terms with Ichigo?" Orihime supplied, her arms crossed in thought.

"A child hollow, Lilynette?" Rukia questioned in surprise.

"Yeah, that was her name exactly," Orihime said with a smile. "Although she's a bit brash."

"Why would she come here?" Rukia pondered to herself in the silence that soon followed.

Sounds of explosions ripped across the sky, shouts and screams occasionally drifting through the opening of the crevice. It was enough to cause shivers to run down the spines of everyone present.

As time went on, Ganju and Kukaku fell at peace by Kaien's side, the siblings huddled close together in a fashion they had not done since their childhood. Kukaku had her body leaned up against Kaien, and her chin nestled against his shoulder. Meanwhile, Ganju sat to the side, leaning his back on Kaien's other side.

Rukia and the rest were seated opposite to Kaien. Karin brooding in the corner while Ishida, Chad, and Orihime discussed what they would have to do when the fighting outside was over. After all, they were like rats scurrying in a battle between behemoths. If they didn't think things out carefully, then they may very well get flattened.

It was only when time seemed to pass on endlessly that Kukaku stirred, her ears perking up as her spiritual awareness detected something.

She pushed herself off from her place by Kaien, her movements alerting everyone else that something was wrong.

"Sis?" Ganju inquired.

Kukaku only rose a hand in response, motioning for everyone to remain quiet.

There! 

Her eyes widened as she felt that sensation again. This all but confirmed it.

"Someone's coming," Kukaku said seriously. "And this isn't someone we can beat. The spiritual energy I can sense is like an ocean that could crush as all with but a thought."

"Y-You can't be serious?" Ganju asked incredulously. "Why would someone like that care enough to seek us out."

Kukaku hushed Ganju down again, but it was clear that Ganju wasn't the only one nervous. Everyone else was too, their expressions tense. Even Orihime had her hands to the hairclips on her head in preparation for conflict.

"We don't know if it's us that they are after," Kukaku quickly tried to reason. "Maybe they are just passing through?"

After spending time in the crevice, Kukaku and the rest had already been masking their spiritual energy to the best of their ability. Therefore, if the approaching stranger still moved in their location despite their precautions, it couldn't be any clearer about the stranger's intentions.

Indeed, Kukaku's expression hardened when not once did this stranger seemed to veer away from their location, but how? She was sure that there was no one watching them when they were retreating from the area. It didn't make sense unless there it was a highly skilled operative of the Stealth Force or some new Kido?

She shook her head. It didn't matter how anymore, just that someone extremely powerful was approaching.

"It's coming," Kukuka warned. "Everyone out, we'll be sitting duck if we stay in here."

As she was talking, Kukaku was already moving to support Kaien on her shoulders while Chad supported Rukia out of the crevice.

Once outside, Kukaku immediately issued everyone to begin fleeing, yet even before then, the smiling visage of a man appeared before Kukaku's eyes.

"A-Aizen Sousuke, y-you!" Kukaku's voice cracked as it shifted into a snarl.

When Kaien had first been reported dead, there was no way she would not do any digging regarding the matter. And low and behold, she found nothing substantial. However, any leads she ever found always led to one individual.

Aizen Sousuke.

Thus, how could she not have had been suspicious? Even now she could vaguely recall the nights Kaien had spent in his study going over random reports. Most of which detailed the rise of Aizen.

Yet, there was no proof that it was Aizen, so she was forced to drop the matter in the past. Now though that she had found Kaien again, and Aizen was then the one to appear before her? She didn't need any proof any longer to know that Aizen was involved in Kaien's supposed death.

"You bastard," Kukaku seethed. However, she didn't make any sudden movements as like it or not, Aizen was far stronger than her.

"Well hello to you too Ms. Shiba," Aizen spoke politely. "However, I do believe that your actions can count as treason to the Seireitei. If you would please return the prisoners to me for them to undergo their judgement, it would save the trouble."

Hearing Aizen's words, everyone tensed, making it clear that they would not be handing over anybody without a fight.

"I'm a Shiba, one of the four Noble families of the Seireitei, and I file for a court meeting," Kukaku said sternly. "There's no way I'll allow this ruling by the central forty-six to pass."

Aizen smiled.

"The thing you have to understand Ms. Shiba, is that I'm not giving you a request, but a statement," Aizen said while suddenly disappearing.

Everyone was left dumbfounded, the speed in which Aizen exhibited was not something that anyone at their level could keep up with. It wouldn't even be a fight, and this knowledge was clear to everyone.

However, that didn't mean that they gave up.

A bow of light appeared in Ishida's hands, while Chad's right arm shifted into the right arm of the giant. Skin colour fading black, a long strip of red ran down the center of Chad's arm followed by two white stripes.

As for Orihime, an orange shield appeared just in front of her, Karin, and Rukia who Chad had placed down near her.

Kukaku and Ganju each had their own set of bombs that the two could use. Ganju's were round, and already lit, while Kukaku seemed to be holding onto a special kind.

Everyone was vigilant, but it would do them no good. They weren't at the level to even meddle with Aizen. Instead, it was like an adult dealing with a child.

"-Aahh!"

Rukia screamed, the scenery around her rapidly changing until she realized that Aizen was currently holding her by the scruff of her neck. Behind him and sprawled on the ground was Kaien.

"That wasn't so hard now was it?" Aizen said calmly.

Kukaku's face paled, the grip she had on her bombs causing her knuckles to whiten. Her eldest borther had been taken away before, she wouldn't allow it to happen again.

Yet just before, she was going to act, Aizen moved, pulling Rukia along as a sharp sword intent caused the Captain to dodge.

They came in a gust of wind,

Pink flower petals drifting into the area like a storm. Floating gently, it was a dazzling sight. The kind only ever seen on the blossoming of Sakura trees. 

Footsteps echoed into the ears of those present. They were not loud, nor too soft, but were instead refined and graceful. Like a water lily drifting along a still pond.

A sword is only strong when it possesses conviction. 

Eyes as sharp as daggers narrowed in an unwavering show of determination. A faith and love that would never fade despite a cold exterior.

A will made from a promise. 

Bound by duty, but held up by honour and emotion.

A conviction that would last for an eternity. 

And a hard voice that spoke of it all. 

"Release my Sister."

Chapter 25: Soul Society, Part 7

One by one, hollows began to converge on Shirou's location. Each new hollow caused Yamamoto's and the others expressions to harden until it became difficult to differentiate them from statues.

After all, the hollows that had arrived had similarly pierced a path through the Seireitei's defences.

Nel for her part was leading her group of hollows like a stampede, trampling her enemies beneath spiritually enhanced hooves. Her lance held securely in her hands releasing tendrils of spiritual energy forward and reduced those in her path into ashes for her to pass over. The hollows behind her cheered in her praise even as she appeared next to Shirou and Harribel's side; completely won over by the strength Nel had displayed as she like Shirou paved them a path forward with little resistance. After all, most of the Captain had already been gathered by Yamamoto, leaving those defending to be the weaker sort of Shinigami.

The war path Nel and her group had taken was quite apparent, blood and gore splattered from the weight of the hollows passing. Ordinary Shinigami who saw such a sight instantly became light headed and helpless.

Baraggan though, was even more tyrannical. Nothing remained in his way except the blackened remains of what were once glorious spires and barracks, now nothing more than a figment in time.

Despite moving by himself at the back of the group of hollows he had sent forward, Baraggan alone was drawing a significant portion of the Captain's attention.

Where he walked, there was death.

Where he breathed, there was only age.

No Shinigami that approached him left even a single trace behind as the process of their skin rotting away from their bones was visibly evident to all those watching.

In front of Baraggan's eyes, there was no clear path to take, and no defences that could stop him. Kido, Zanpakuto, buildings, nothing mattered in his disinterested eyes. Only the path ahead of him mattered, but even then, unlike Nel, Baraggan was walking at a leisurely rate. He didn't even care if there was a wall in front of him, or even an entire barrack. He would simply raise his hand and give a simple touch before the entire thing disappeared as if it were never there.

Different from Nel, the Shinigami that met Baraggan were far from just light-headed and helpless, they were terrified. Nothing they could do would work, for everything ages and deteriorates.

For though he travelled as a single hollow, he alone met the least resistance as he continued forward. By his pacing, it would take him far longer to reach Shirou than the others Baraggan had already sent ahead. In fact, Brans had already fallen to stand dutifully behind Shirou's back.

Yet Baraggan was just beginning his path through the Shinigami's defences, causing dark lines to form over Yamamoto's brows.

If Shirou was the highest priority to kill in the Shinigami's eyes, then Baraggan was undoubtedly the second.

"Truly the act of a hollow," Kaname Tousen spoke towards Shirou. "To hold over the life of a fellow Shinigami over our heads instead of a head-on confrontation."

Shirou looked impassively at Kaname before speaking. "To take one of our own and expect no repercussions, what does that make you?"

Kaname fell silent after the response as Sajin Komamura stepped forward. "Enough talk, hollow. It's clear from your actions that you are far from valiant yourself. We had only taken one of yours, but how many of ours have already perished?"

Apacci snorted from her spot recuperating by Harribel.

"Clearly, not enough," Apacci said through gritted teeth.

Apacci's answer caused a growl to come from Sajin's mouth, but a movement from Yamamoto silenced everyone. Most of the Captains were reassured seeing Yamamoto act, but it was only Shunsui who remained tense.

After all, Shirou still had Jushiro in his possession.

"You know clearly that this situation is unfavourable for the both of us," Yamamoto began. "Although it's evident that our side is losing out more in this exchange, but that can also be contributed to the fact that the brunt of our strength is already concentrated here while yours are not. In this regard, we are still fairly even, however, this is not Hueco Mundo."

A startling spiritual pressure descended on the hollows, forcing a few of them to crash to the ground while the majority of them were trembling on their knees.

Yamamoto's eyes were wide open, a seriousness on his face that he had not displayed in decades.

"Impudent hollows!" With a thump of his cane, a blazing inferno had appeared in the sky stronger than that of even the sun.

"The might of the Seireitei has been tested and proven to defeat hollows like you. Do you honestly think that this time would be different?!" Yamamoto spiritual pressure only increased with his words. Portions even effecting the allies around him.

Almost all the hollows of Adjuchas and lower plummeted to the ground, and struggled to remain on their knees. But the King still stood standing, seemingly unaffected.

Shirou nodded towards Harribel and Nel, and then placed Jushiro just in front of him.

"Harm him, and you will not see the light of Hueco Mundo's moon ever again," Yamamoto's tone was clipped, and Shunsui was radiating a deathly aura.

Shirou didn't care. The two children he could see in his periphery were staring at him earnestly, but weren't doing anything, seeming to understand something as they jumped on Jushiro. Staring silently at him, the two children gave a nod before waving a silent goodbye.

At that moment, a shadow quickly snatched Jushiro from in front of Shirou as his hand was still stretched out.

Nel's expression immediately soured seeing who it was.

"You're not dead," Soifon spoke in astonishment towards Nel.

"Certain death was it? Cleary, it doesn't meet expectations," Nel taunted, causing Soifon's eyes to narrow.

Jushiro was in Soifon's hands, and no sooner than when Yamamoto and Shunsui realized this, that all their reservations disappeared.

Shunsui instantly appeared next to Soifon and took Jushiro into his hands before retreating a safe distance away.

As for Yamamoto, a wave of fire would be too underwhelming to describe it. It was an ocean of flame; that which could reduce all into ashes. And even then, it didn't appear as if the man had put much effort into the attack: A simple tap with his cane. It was truly a show of power. And indeed, it was affecting the hollow's morale. The heat coming off of it was already enough to melt steel, and the hollows pressed to the ground felt as if they were being baked alive. The attack wasn't even directed towards them, but they still felt its effects. Just from this alone, it was enough of an indication about what would happen if Yamamoto decided that he wished to deal with them.

They swallowed slowly, eyes riveted to the form of their King who stood unmoving. Harribel and Nel stood behind him, and not too far off was Ulquiorra and the other three Vasto Lordes watching form the side.

A single hand to part the sea.

That hand exhibited a concentrated burst of a towering spiritual pressure that seemed to contain the entirety of the flame within its palm.

Thereafter, the flame was extinguished with a single squeeze.

Embers trailed to the ground, creating flames that caught fire from atop the ruined rubble of the destroyed infrastructure.

The sky, a fiery red, was reflecting within those deep and unmoving bronze eyes.

It left the Shinigami staring at the scene speechless. This was an attack by the Head-Commander. And for it to be extinguished just as easily as the Head-Commander had launched it, what did that mean for the strength the King of Hollows, the Vasto of White possessed?

"Are you done Head-Captain?"

That voice was piercing in the silence that followed.

Even more so when the sky itself began filling with countless swords.

They appeared in the dozens at first, and then the hundreds, spanning to the thousands as the sheer number of them was staggering.

The lonely hill. 

That which was spoken by their very own Zanpakuto appeared in the Shinigami's minds. It was even more so for the Captains who had seen the image of the eyes staring back at them.

Rooted, all Shinigami and hollows alike turned towards the sky.

It was magnificent. The power exuding from those swords alone causing both a sense of awe and trepidation.

"This is ether, a powerful energy source available only for one with the power of a God," 

The words spoken in a council meeting long past returned to the minds of the Captains that were present for it.

Some of those swords hovering in the air gave off the feeling that they had felt that day.

"Therefore, they are most likely artifacts left behind by the Soul King." 

Unohana sent a glance at Yamamoto's direction, only to find the man staring fixedly ahead. She too then turned to find herself freezing in place.

Zanpakuto, their Zanapkuto floated amongst the several thousands of swords.

"Preposterous," Yamamoto mouthed, staring at the floating wooden cane in the middle of the group of swords.

"Ryujin Jakka," Shirou spoke quietly. "The strongest Fire-Type Zanpakuto."

The words Shirou spoke rung in Yamamoto's head, seemingly leaving him at a loss.

Yet Yamamoto didn't know that Shirou was bluffing. For the majority of the Zanpakuto he had traced, it was only in outer appearance alone. The spirits within the blades had yet to acknowledge him, making it impossible for him to use them. Which was why even now he only traced them from a distance. Even if it was just their outer appearance, there was still resistance.

But it would do.

The aura from the other swords completely engulfed the other Zanpakuto, making it impossible for the Shinigami to tell the difference from them, and the swords in their hands.

He stared at Yamamoto, making sure that the man's attention was on him.

Indeed, it was.

In fact, Yamamoto was staring daggers at him. Clearly, the priority to kill Shirou had skyrocketed.

But it wouldn't be that easy.

"How many swords can you burn, Head-Captain?" Shirou said.

Stepping forward, every single sword then pointed in the Shinigami's direction oppressively. Not one Shinigami present wished to see what would happen if such a mass of steel were to descend.

In response, Yamamoto's flames only burned brighter till the point where they were no longer visible.

"Your flame may reduce all to ashes, but will it be enough to cover all of the Shinigami behind you?" Shirou asked slowly, his spiritual pressure increasing exponentially.

In the distance, Baraggan peered up from his leisurely pace and stared silently at the towering light before him.

Other hollows too looked at that pillar of spiritual power their King was releasing and cheered.

"The thing is Head-Captain," Shirou said while Kanshou and Bakuya appeared in his hands. "Although you may have thought that it was underhanded to use Jushiro to gain the advantage, the truth is,"

"I never needed him."

To Rukia, the scene playing out in front of her was almost unbelievable despite the vice-like grip around her collar. It was even more so when she considered just who it was that was standing up for her.

"Byakuya Kuchiki," Aizen said slowly. "I would think that you above all would understand the present situation of the Seireitei?"

Byakuya remained silent, his gaze calm as a swirl of tiny petal-like blades condensed around him and morphed into the form of a sword in his hands.

A gleam appeared in Aizen's eyes in the next moment. "Shouldn't you still be recuperating Captain? I'd heard that from Lt. Isane that Captain Unohana was far from pleased from your disappearance at the medical wards of the fourth division-"

A slicing sound cut through the air as a few strands of Aizen's hair floated towards the ground. Aizen barely even reacted, seeming to take everything in stride.

"Are you sure of your actions, Captain? You know as well as I that insubordination is punishable by death or life in prison within the Maggot's Nest. Will you be obstructing me from my duties?"

"Cut the bullshit, Aizen," Byakuya's eyes narrowed as he tossed out something that appeared to be a body of some kind.

It was shrivelled, skin greying, and eyes hollow sockets that spoke of the surprise the person must have felt before death.

"This is the state of the Central Forty-Six," Byakuya said simply, drawing a gasp of realization from Kukaku's mouth as she clenched her fists.

From the sheer fury she directed in Aizen's direction, it was clear that if Kukaku had the power to kill him, she would be more than happy to do so. She would make him wish he was never born. Yet the disparity in spiritual power wasn't something that could be bridged by emotions and personal feelings alone. Therefore, she could only release a repressed murmur of rage.

"Based on the spiritual deterioration of the body alone, its death was far from recent; even before the order to call back Rukia Kuchiki from the Human World," Byakuya continued, sheathing his blade.

"Therefore, Captain Aizen, those orders issued by the Central Forty-Six, are far from valid. Now release my sister, she will be in the care of the Kuchiki clan until the perpetrator can be found."

Aizen stared in silence at Byakuya, the smile on his face creasing until it returned to a tranquil calm.

"Is that so," Aizen spoke, loosening his grip on Rukia's collar and allowing Rukia to drop down onto the ground on her feet. "I'm curious though, Captain Kuchiki, what made you decide to make a trip to the Central Forty-Six?"

"Mayuri Kurotsuchi," Byakuya said, expression growing less tense with Aizen's actions. Thereafter, he motioned towards Rukia to come towards him.

She did so promptly standing meekly by his side.

"Oh, and you were able to come to such conclusions from Captain Kurotsuchi?" Aizen said, laying a hand to rest firmly on his sword, Kyoka Suigetsu.

Byakuya nodded his head. "It was already suspicious that he would come to the human world without first sending someone to verify the traces of spiritual energy he had detected in his labs. Furthermore, there was something off about the way the Central Forty-Six allowed his deployment alongside myself and my lieutenant. This only became apparent to me after careful contemplation in the medical ward."

There was a tapping sound echoing in the air as Aizen rapped a finger against Kyoka Suigetsu's hilt. "So, you moved towards the Central Forty-Six for such reasons," Aizen mused aloud. "Pray tell then Captain, did you not go because some part of you disagreed with the given orders?"

"…" Byakuya didn't answer as Rukia's attention fell on him.

It was true that that had also been one of his motives. As the Head of the Kuchiki clan, he like Kukaku Shiba could have a direct audience with the Central Forty-Six to some degree as decreed by the rules set down by the Spirit King. It was true that he had already done so before entering the Human World, but he couldn't help but try again after he thought things over. Low and behold, he discovered corpses instead of a council.

Aizen walked leisurely towards the corpse Byakuya had revealed, picking it up to examine it. Aizen's actions weren't impeded in the least as Byakuya could discern that the man was simply inspecting the corpse to ascertain its validity.

However, that reasoning faded completely when the corpse erupted into a ball of flame, and then into ashes.

"What are you doing?" He spoke coldly.

Aizen smiled in response before clapping his hands clean from the soot and ashes.

"I really should have had disposed of these bodies when I first payed a visit towards the Central Forty-Six, but I had assumed my helpers competent. Regardless, it doesn't matter."

Slowly, Aizen removed his glasses and stored them within his white Haori. His entire appearance seeming to change from the natural calm he exuded towards others to become more suave and confident; as if the very world were sitting in the palm of his hands.

It was a change that caused Byakuya to instantly draw his sword.

Byakuya wasn't a fool, and he could understand the meaning of Aizen's actions even without the man speaking.

"You are the traitor," Byakuya said bluntly.

Aizen only stared back silently, almost mockingly. "At this point Captain Kuchiki, there's nothing you can really do to stop me anymore."

It was a flurry of flowing petals that danced in the wind. 

Without warning they appeared. Sharp, and gleaming in the light as they fell in a cascade towards Aizen.

Yet almost at that moment, Aizen moved too.

Swift, and faster than what Byakuya knew Aizen was able to move at, the man disappeared from his location and reappeared a few steps to the left.

Byakuya's eyes narrowed. Aizen's speed may very well by faster than his. If so, everything became much more difficult, but it was expected as Aizen was a Captain-Class Shinigami.

"Scatter, Senbonzakura," the words that came from his mouth were like a catalyst; his entire sword fading away into a sea of tiny sharp blades that moved towards Aizen in a torrent.

Its formation was no longer like a spear.

But an all-encompassing wave. 

It didn't matter if Aizen had speed. It would mean nothing if the man had nowhere to escape to.

"How, naïve Captain Kuchiki,"

The voice that sounded right next to his ear had his hair raising behind his neck.

Impossible. 

Eyes widening, he blocked the incoming fist with a palm, sending Aizen flying backwards and tumbling against the ground before reorienting himself.

"Not using your sword is not the wisest of moves," Byakuya said coolly. "Draw your sword, or this will end too quickly."

Aizen shrugged in response after patting the dust off of his clothes. However, Aizen still didn't draw his sword, raising his hand instead.

Kido? 

Arcs of lightning fast spells zipped towards him, yet he could hardly take them seriously. Was this Aizen's idea of a joke, or a simple underestimation? The Kido fired at him were moving at such a slow rate that it would have had been a miracle if he had allowed himself to get hit.

He wasted no time at all, ending this farce.

Appearing in front of Aizen, he fired his own blast of Kido directly onto Aizen's chest.

"What the fuck are you doing?!" 

His brows furrowed as for a moment, it felt as if he had heard a voice. Still, the situation was far from peaceful, and it wouldn't allow him to contemplate too much on the matter.

Wisps of smoke trailed behind Aizen's path of descent, his body lying motionless on the ground as his charred skin gave off an unpleasant smell. Yet almost instantly after, Aizen seemed to get up and acted as if he had taken no damage at all.

However, Byakuya wasn't one to allow himself to lose the initiative. He left Rukia's side and charged forward.

If Aizen wouldn't draw his sword, then so be it.

"W-Wait Stop!" 

Byakuya's expression hardened, ignoring all other noise as he focused on the enemy at hand.

Some sort of barrier appeared in front of him and Aizen, Aizen smiling mockingly on the other side.

This kind of barrier wouldn't work at all.

With a flourish of his hands, he sent a cascade of Senbonzakura's petals to thoroughly destroy the barrier which exploded and injured Aizen further.

This was when Byakuya paused. "Draw your sword Aizen," he said simply as he watched Aizen get up again.

Aizen was injured now. Cuts over his body, and the Byakurai Byakuya had shot into the man's chest still smoking.

"Indeed, perhaps I should," Aizen said, drawing forth Kyoka Suigetsu.

Based on Byakuya's memory, Aizen had a water-type Zanpakuto. Therefore, he expected it when torrents of water completely surrounded him.

Acting fast, Byakuya countered with a cyclone of rose petals that swirled violently around him to dissipate the water.

Thereafter, Senbonzakura once again appeared in Byakuya's hands before he charged towards Aizen.

Spouts of water like jet streams shot at his approach, but he swerved past them all by utilizing his proficiency in Flash Step.

The surroundings were reduced to rubble, the strength of the water Aizen was releasing boring holes into the ground and straight through the trees and nearby boulders.

Byakuya reached Aizen in a matter of seconds, locking blades with the man, he stared coldly as his strength overpowered Aizen's.

Sparks fell towards the ground in showers of heat and steel, creating shadows that casted themselves over Aizen's features.

Disengaging from the sword lock, Aizen used the moment to stab forward with his sword. It was fast, a movement that should have had pierced any other Captain, but himself. After all, one of the aspects he prided himself in was his speed.

He swerved just out of reach from Aizen's sword, and stabbed forward with his own, knowing the distinct feeling of his sword piercing through flesh. He had hit his mark.

Aizen's body seemed to fall limp, staring straight at Byakuya as blood dripped down the edge of Senbonzakura.

"It would seem as if I'd miscalculated," Aizen's voice sounded bitter.

Byakuya didn't respond. There was no need to when facing traitors of the Soul Society.

Yet, Aizen wasn't done talking. Instead, the man was insistent on it.

"Tell me then Kuchiki, did you not inform anyone else of this matter?"

A look of resignation appeared on Aizen's face, his brows furrowing as the man forced down a gag reflex caused by Senbonzakura still stabbed through his chest.

"I alone am enough," Byakuya said coolly, unwilling to admit that he had been too anxious after his discovery at the Central Forty-Six.

"So that's how it was indeed," Aizen said nodding his head despite the blood leaking from his mouth. "Unfortunately, then, Captain Kuchiki,"

Aizen gripped the flat of Senbonzakura and thrust himself further down its blade, such that he was now face to face with Byakuya.

"Our time is up."

The sound of shattering glass seemed to ring in Byakuya's head, before the world around him seemed to morph and twist; stripping away what he thought was reality and replacing it with a bone chilling horror scape.

Screams seemed to ring in his ears, but he could hardly care at this moment as the grip he had on his sword slackened entirely.

"R-Rukia!?" He exclaimed in shock and disbelief after seeing his own blade stabbed straight through the person he had vowed to protect. She was paling fast, numerous wounds on her body that he knew could have had only been caused by him.

This wasn't supposed to happen. 

"…B-Brother, why?"

Rukia's mouth was still opening up and down, a look of shock and despair on her face that hurt more than any dagger or sword.

His hands stretched forward by instinct, catching her into his arms as her body lost its strength to stand.

That face.

That expression.

It was all too similar.

No, No. Not again, NO.

He could see her gasping for breath, could feel the warmth of her blood.

T-This wasn't possible. What the hell happened?!

It was at that moment that Byakuya finally took his eyes off of Rukia to glance around him.

The Ryoka, the one's that infiltrated the Seireitei at the same time as the hollows. They were scattered everywhere. Some were near him, and others were much farther, but it was the same scene for each of them. They lay there bleeding and unmoving, clearly in a state of unconsciousness or death.

A dull numbness seemed to take root within him before his gaze eventually settled on Kaien Shiba whose body was sprawled protectively over top his siblings. Out of the three Shiba's the most blood was coming from out of Kaien's own back.

The brother was beneath Kaien, and the sister at the very bottom.

Out of everyone, only Kukaku was barely awake, and even then, it was because her brothers had taken most of the injuries for her.

Still, she lay battered and wounded, and was completely unable to move. Bits of dirt and grime covered her body from head to toe, making it appear as if she had rolled in mud. Dried tears stained her face, and her gaze was still pointed in his direction, stunning him in what he saw.

Because in her eyes, was an untold fury.

Her mouth was opening and closing, rasping out a cracked voice that eventually exploded on him.

"Kuchiki, you BASTARD!"

Chapter 26: Soul Society, Part 8

Throughout civilization, battle had always marked the point of change.

Humans fought wars, changing their leaders, beliefs, and even the land itself to suit their means.

In which case, the winner determines the result. The one to decide the path of the future.

Amidst the sound of gunfire screaming in a torrential down pour, war brought about the coming of a new era for humans, and this was the same for the Soul Society.

Yamamoto of the older generation lived from a time where there was no such organization as the Thirteen-Court Guard Squads of the Seireitei. Instead, he and his compatriots had wandered in a world of blood shed where strength was the largest deterrent. With enemies all around, and no place to truly call home, they forged a path by the sharp edge of their own swords.

That strength was one that Yamamoto had in excess, dominating the previous era in the conflict against the Quincy and Hollows of old.

Swords and arrows made for killing were common in conflict, yet this time, it was truly different.

Floating ominously within the Seireitei's sky, was a vast blot of steel and armaments releasing a pressure Yamamoto had never once felt before.

Weapons of Legend and Reverie. 

Noble Phantasms. 

Yet in Yamamoto's eyes, they were something more. They emanated an aura that demanded a respect earned only from the battlefield. Something Yamamoto was quite clear on as a veteran of the Soul Society's past conflicts.

How much blood must one draw in order to release such a heavy blood lust?

A red barbed spear hung loosely in the air, red vein-like structures seemingly pulsating with a demonic spiritual energy that manifested the image of a snarling dog. Before it, the weapons and Zanpakuto the lower seated-officers carried paled in comparison.

Yet Yamamoto's eyes had already moved elsewhere.

An aura of tranquility, bearing the principalities of kindness, humility, and faith. 

That flag tied upon the end of a spear billowing alone in the wind had a presence greater than even the most ferocious of individuals. It was plain and simple, yet it was in this state of a lofty and lonely disregard, that it gave the most substantial impact.

A single banner amidst an army of gleaming silver.

And even then, there was more.

Countless more.

For a moment, Yamamoto was left at a loss, staring blankly ahead of him and towards the image of his own Zanpakuto amidst that steel.

Impossible.

He had only drawn Ryjuin Jakka once, and even then, he hadn't even released it from it's caned form, granted the one before him was also in the form of a cane. However, just from the presence the other swords were emitting around it, it was clear that the possibility that he would be facing his own Zanpakuto may be a reality.

And this sunk in deeper than the sharpest of daggers.

His own partner, and the power he knew that it was able to wield.

If this King of Hollows had access to his Bankai, then the Seireitei would burn in a flame never before seen in millenniums.

"Unohana," he called, his voice coming out rasped.

"Captain," Unohana said after jolting herself out of her dazed state.

"Evacuate the seated officers. This battle is no longer at a scale in which they can participate at. With the new generation, comes feeble embers, but even embers can ignite a fire," he spoke with certainty. "The Sereitei has never once fallen, nor will it ever."

"Understood," Unohana said calmly before immediately issuing out the order. She then sent a concerned glance at Yamamoto. "Be careful," she said.

Yamamoto grunted, but his order to evacuate the seated officers didn't change. If in the worst case, the Seireitei is defeated, then all hope would then rest upon those that got away. For such a means, it was best to be prepared.

He then stared hard at the King of Hollows, standing alone within that meshwork of metal.

The other Vasto Lordes stood on either side of the King, their eyes a-light with an eager satisfaction at seeing the seated officers leave.

He would not allow that satisfaction to remain on their faces.

"Captains, prepare for battle," he said.

Toshiro, Shunsui, Tousen, Komamura, Soifon, Gin, and Kenpachi all readied themselves.

Yet, Yamamoto made a mental note to himself as Aizen had yet to arrive. Byakuya was injured and had gone missing, so he was already accounted for, yet Aizen had no excuses to not have had seen the gathering signal.

Could it be that Aizen was already taken down?

Yamamoto's face darkened.

It was a possibility.

Grasping tightly on to Ryujin Jakka, the wood around the blade began to fade away into burning ashes, revealing the sword beneath.

"You have trespassed on the Soul Society's grounds, and have killed our people," Yamamoto's voice was cold. "Your sentence is death."

His was a blade of fire the likes of which could burn away even the toughest of metals such that they evaporate away like water.

Wisps of dancing flame travelled down Ryujin Jakka's blade and curled around its pommel.

The temperature in the area sky rocketed, making it harder to breath as the fire ate away at the air.

"Come, hollow," Yamamoto beckoned. "I will show you why it is that swords and spears are forged in fire."

"And I will show you why it is that the blacksmith is the master of flame."

The voice that came from the Hollow King's mouth was eerily calm, as if unaffected by Yamamoto's display of power.

Thereafter, the swords rained down with Yamamoto's movement.

Knives, daggers, spears, they descended the fastest, carpet bombing everything in sight.

They were so fast that only shadows could be seen.

"Sit upon the Frozen Heavens, Hyorinmaru!"

A sheet of ice appeared in the sky, lumbering and emmiting a chilling fog, it blocked the majority of the descending weapons, yet not all.

"It's that spear!" Toshiro warned.

The very same red spear that had ripped through the Seireitei's protective dome pierced holes through the sheet of ice Toshiro had created. Almost like swiss cheese, they shredded straight through the frosty layer unimpeded.

"Use physical attacks!" Soifon called, vaulting over Toshiro as she parried red-spear after red spear.

Gáe Dearg: The Crimson Rose of Exorcism. Under its pointed edge, all ties of energy were severed. 

True to Soifon's reputation as the Captain of the Stealth Force, her speed alone allowed her to deflect all the incoming projectiles of Gáe Dearg. Never ending clanging noises echoed throughout the sky as Soifon faded in and out of vision shifting the trajectories of the spears.

Yet, it wouldn't be enough.

"I don't think so."

A hand planted itself upon Soifon's face. Eyes widening, Soifon had no time to react before she was hurled across the distance, sending her tumbling in the air.

Gritting her teeth, Soifon forcibly stopped herself and glared at Nel in a stagger. "You were already lucky to escape death, yet now you're clearly seeking it!" She yelled. "Sting all enemies to death: Suzumebachi."

A black and gold rimmed stinger appeared over Soifon's hand, glowing with a dull light made from spiritual energy.

"I assure you," Nel said moving a hand to grip her lance. "It is not me who will be suffering today."

A fierceness shone in Nel's eyes attributing to her heritage as a hollow. "This time I don't see your friend helping you."

Almost before Soifon could react, a spear's tip was just before her head powered by the explosive strength of a cero. Veins popping in her eyes, she twisted her body backwards such that she only lost a couple strands of her hair.

"Soifon!" Toshiro called, yet before he could provide aid he felt a shift in the sheets of ice he had created to blanket the rain of swords.

"You Shinigami truly do not understand," A dark and deep voice spoke.

Up above, in the direction of the ice sheets, a purple mass of dark spiritual energy suddenly tore a hole through the ice. Like acid, it began to corrode away anything it touched.

"Here, standing before you, is death itself. The God of Hueco Mundo, Baraggan Louisenbarn."

From the ice there appeared a hand of bone.

Gold coloured bracelets around a thin wrist dangled gently. A simple flick of a hand sending a cloud of corroding gas towards the ice and completely eradicating it.

There past the ice, and wreathed in a regal mantle of flowing violet fur, a skeleton stood tall.

"I am time itself. Look upon the breath of death: Respira!"

Mouth opening, a dark miasma instantly descended down.

Unlike the King of Hollows, Baraggan was merciless. His attack was not directed towards the Captain, but at the seated officers and lower ranked Shinigami Unohana was leading away.

"Filth!" Yamamoto raged.

With a flick of his sleeve, a wave of fire enshrouded the miasma containing it within.

Baraggan was far from pleased.

"Fool, you are only delaying the inevitable."

Even as Baraggan spoke, tiny wisps of Yamamoto's flame were slowly being eaten away, yet still they remained.

It was a flame that burned for an eternity.

"…" Baraggan clenched his teeth realizing this before he instead turned to look up.

"I will not be bested here," Baraggan muttered.

Looking at the direction Baraggan was staring at, Yamamoto realized that Baraggan was staring to the King of Hollows, the Vasto of White.

Thereafter, Baraggan roared, clouds of death shooting out from his body in all directions.

Before it, everything was rotting away.

"My, isn't that an interesting ability," Gin spoke off handily as he hurriedly retreated along with Tousen.

Some of the other retreating Shinigami weren't so lucky. A single touch, and the skin began to fade away from their bones, leaving nothing behind but ashes in the wind.

Yamamoto's expression grew grave.

"Ryujin Jakka!"

A dome of fire surrounded Baraggan completely, clashing with the miasma Baraggan was releasing.

However, no matter how eternal a flame, it would only burn as long as there was something to burn. The space around Baraggan was completely empty, void of anything, and preventing the fire from reaching him. Yet, he couldn't move either.

Releasing a breath, Yamamoto then turned his attention back to the King of Hollows.

More precisely, to the vibrating red spear whose blood-lust only continued to increase.

With Soifon preoccupied, the task of deflecting the falling weapons fell upon Sajin Komamura and Zaraki Kenpachi. Unlike Sajin who had a troubled expression from beneath his helmed visage, Zaraki had a feral smile on his face.

The two had noticed the blood-lust coming from the red spear almost immediately.

"Be careful," Tousen called out to Sajin, but was hard pressed to say anything else when Harribel struck down on him. The shark fin blade in her hands may seem dauntingly large and bulky, but it belayed a swiftness and edge not seen on the surface. More so when a yellow spiritual energy burst forth from the blade and created an explosion.

"Kaname!" Sajin shouted in alarm, yet he couldn't aid his friend as it was more important to stop the descent of the swords.

As for Shunsui, he was staring impassively at Ulquiorra who simply stared back before the both disappeared into action.

"Enough!" Yamamoto yelled.

With this shout, an immense spiritual pressure weighed down on the area. It was almost visible as even the air itself seemed to distort.

Raising a hand, Yamamoto immediately aimed a torrent of flame towards the red-spear thrumming with demonic power. Whatever kind of ability that spear had, Zanpakuto or not, Yamamoto did not wish to know. All that mattered was that he stops it.

The spear of the Red Plains. 

And the Legend of the Hound of Ulster. 

An acute war cry reverberated throughout the sky, a gleaming red light bathing the area in a sea of purplish red. There was a certain heaviness that caused shivers to travel down people's spines. More so when a howl echoed in their ears.

It Pierces the Heart.

"Have you heard of Legends?" The King of hollows spoke solemnly.

"Tales of weapons capable of crushing armies and changing the land itself."

Yamamoto creased his brows, feeling the energy of his attack dwindling the closer it got to the spear.

"Then let me show you."

Thrumming gently, the red spear zipped into the Hollow King's hand, leaving a trail of red in the air and the clang of a pole arm to resound.

The image that the Hollow King displayed changed completely with the addition of the spear. No longer did he just appear as a hollow that stood above the rest, but that blood-lust exuding from the spear spread over the Hollow King like a raging flame.

In those amber coloured eyes, a dull crimson flashed.

If hollows were savage and ruthless by nature, then there was no doubt that the Hollow King before everyone's eyes now was at the pinnacle. Shrouded in a fierce killing intent and blood-lust and never showing his back.

He who stands at the front. 

Hollows revered power. To be called King wasn't only because of actions, but through the strength one wielded.

Instinct attracted the weak to the strong, and for hollows, this was even more so.

"OOOOOOOOHH!"

Masked visages opened their jaws and wailed in proclamation by instinct, the respect and awe in their eyes hard to describe.

Even the Vasto Lordes were affected, gazes heated as the compulsion to roar out nearly overrode their sense of reasoning.

Everywhere, everyone gave pause. To the Shinigami staring up, the presence the King of Hollows exuded was suffocating.

Yamamoto's eyes widened as the world itself seemed to distort with the King of Hollow's next movements.

"Head Captain!"

Unohana's warning came to Yamamoto at just the precise moment. The Shinigami under him were cowering, they needed his guidance.

Stilling his body, Yamamoto glared before spiking his spiritual energy, yet by then, the attack had already come.

"Gáe Bolg."

It was but a whisper in the wind. Something that was barely even audible, but it gave a power to that red spear like none other. Everyone could feel it.

That blood-lust intensified such that it was impossible for the Vasto Lordes to reserve themselves any longer.

For power itself to hollows was intoxicating.

Mouths opening, they released an ominous ear deafening wail that heralded the coming of the Barbed Spear of Death. The sound came from the gut, born from the desire of acquiring that which they no longer had.

With a flourish of the Hollow King's hand, that spear descended, thrown forward like a missile loaded with power.

It was like a meteor falling from the sky that multiplied into hundreds in an instant.

"Bankai!"

The temperature plummeted, clouds forming in the heavens, writhing tendrils of lightning within. And from those clouds came the snow.

Falling gently to the earth, they froze upon contact, blooming into radiant ice flowers spanning the entirety of the Seireitei.

The Dragon sitting upon the frozen skies.

Its breath was frost, its eyes jade pools of sleet that shone with power in defiance to its attacker.

The strongest Ice Zanpakuto.

"Daiguren Hyōrinmaru!"

A Dragon of ice soared, maw opened, and body releasing a numbing coldness that seeped into the bones.

Barbed spear met dragon in a collision that created shockwaves that forced almost everyone back.

From the dragon's front, a layer of ice magnitudes larger than the one before it intercepted Gae Bolg's path as the dragon converted its very body into a shield.

Resplendent ephemeral light blinded the world, yet in that light, there existed a fierce crimson.

Gae Bolg, the spear of the mightiest warrior Ireland had ever known. 

It alone had the power to crush armies.

The Cursed Spear of Striking Death. 

It embodied the concept of cause and affect, yet rather than technique, it focused solely on the power and the area of effect; carpet bombing the entire area.

A tapestry of action that splits into numerous spearheads distorting space.

That spoken of in legend displayed itself once more.

The attack of Ireland's Child of Light.

Cú Chulainn.

And the legend of the Red Plains.

Silence.

Then an explosion that shattered the sheet of ice completely.

Glacial sheets fell to the ground like rain, shards falling like hail.

And at the very front, three ice petals floating behind the back of Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya shattered into fine mist.

Blood seeped from his pours, and a gash on his forehead smeared crimson over the latter part of his face.

He had used all of his spiritual energy to stop that attack, and even then, he wasn't able to completely stop it.

Toshiro bitterly looked down at the hole in his stomach before his eyes darkened from the strain of staying conscious. Unlike before, he didn't have enough power to create a copy of himself in the ice. Therefore, this was his true body.

"Captain!"

A voice registered into Toshiro's ears, but even then, it sounded distant to him along with the rapidly approaching ground in his blurred gaze.

Rangiku Matsumoto, Lt. of the Tenth Division broke off from where Unohana was leading her away with the other seated officers to catch Toshiro before he crashed onto the ground.

However, a shadow soon loomed over the both of them.

A hollow.

Large, and bear like, it lunged towards them.

Even as the King of Hollows acted, the other hollows didn't remain idle. This was the case for Harribel, and Nel who were already engaging the enemy, and this was even more so for the hollows Baraggan had brought with him.

Rangiku's expression sunk before she gripped tightly onto her sword.

Based on the power the hollow was emitting it was an Adjuchas level for sure. Generally, she was confident in combating one, and even escaping should the situation prove dire, but she couldn't have any confidence now that she was protecting Toshiro behind her.

Her gaze darted back and forth, but no one she could see was around to provide aid after Captain Unohana began evacuating the seated officers.

Pursing her lips, she slashed out with her sword.

"Geh," she groaned as her Zanpakuto deadlocked with the hollow's claws.

Behind her, she could hear Toshiro's breath growing faint.

He needed medical attention or else he was going to die.

"Captain, hang on!" She urged while gritting her teeth. "Growl, Haineko!"

The sword lodged in between the hollow's claws faded away into a storm of silver ash that completely enshrouded the hollow. Each particle was a tiny blade that could seep into the smallest of pours.

Spinning in a vortex, it began to eat away at the hollow's skin and body. However, Rangiku wasn't prepared for the tenacity the hollow displayed.

Haineko took the form of silver ash. Anything the ash touched, Rangiku could cut at will with but a few gestures. However, unlike a sword, when the hollow chose to ignore its own defence and charged forward, there was nothing Rangiku could do to stop it.

All she had in her hands was an empty hilt, the blade still in an ash like form. Eyes widening, she swung Haineko furiously, each slicing motion opening a wound on the hollow. Yet, as an Adjuchas, its defences were far stronger than regular hollows.

It shrugged off all the injuries, intent on stabbing forward.

Her complexion paled.

She couldn't dodge.

Behind her was her captain, and any more damage may result in his death.

"Damn it!" She cursed.

Abandoning any thoughts of attacking, Rangiku sheathed her blade and moved to pick up Toshiro off the ground.

Yet, her movements were too slow.

Just as she wrapped her arms around Toshiro's body to pick him up, a claw's shadow appeared right before her eyes.

Unblinking, she stared in a daze at the sword suddenly pierced through the hollow's chest.

Sleek, and dripping with blood, Rangiku followed the blade's shaft all the way to its hilt.

"G-Gin?!" She cried out in alarm.

Currently, mostly all of the Captain of the Seireitei were engaged in battle amidst the hollows and the rain of swords. It was difficult enough already to fend for themselves, but to fend for others as well? It would come at a cost.

Smiling, Gin only shook his head while staring at Rangiku. Shinso, his Zanpakuto, was still pointed in her direction, but by doing so, Gin was forced to block his own enemy's attack with his own arm. Now hanging limp by his shoulder, Gin had to fight with the use of only his left arm.

Rangiku didn't know what to say.

Fool, Idiot, nitwit, were all words that wanted to burst out from her mouth, but instead, it was just her tears that unexpectedly came. After all, Gin may very well die with how the situation was. The Hollow King was able to produce such a fear-inducing attack that had nearly killed Toshiro, and now that Gin was injured and constantly under attack, wouldn't he be next? And yet, even with the pressure on him, Gin still chose to save her.

It wasn't fair.

If she had only been stronger, then perhaps she'd finally understand Gin's reasons for leaving back then.

Seeing Rangiku crying, a sharpness appeared in Gin's eyes before he stared at the hollow in front of him, and then to the hollows near Rangiku. The hand gripping his sword tightened as the smile on his face belied violent intentions along with his spike in spiritual pressure.

"Shoot to kill, Shinso,"

A sword that stretched across the horizons ripped a horizontal line across an entire horde of hollows, causing many Shinigami to cheer.

Even Yamamoto gave a nod, but his attention was more focused on Toshiro.

As the youngest Captain, Yamamoto knew that Toshiro had the greatest potential to become one of the Soul Society's strongest pillars. He couldn't allow Toshiro to die, and seeing the state Toshiro was in after bloking the Hollow King's attack only made Yamamoto more furious.

Unohana was quick to arrive to Toshiro and Rangiku. Having been leading the seated officers away, she was much farther from the battlefield and took a few moments longer to arrive.

Upon arrival, Unohana immediately took Toshiro away for examination, a dull green glow encompassing Toshiro's body as Unohana activated her healing Kido.

Yet her expression grew grim.

"T-This, impossible," she muttered to herself before the intensity of her Kibo increased several folds. The brilliant green light of her healing spiritual energy nearly fully engulfed the area, yet Unohana only appeared to look more and more strained.

After all, the wound was barely healing at all.

What sort of weapon could cause this?

It wasn't healing.

Pursing her lips, she tore off a segment of her haori to use it as a bandage. If her healing kido wouldn't work, then all that she could do was hope that it would heal naturally.

Quickly patching Toshiro up, she stared at Yamamoto, but couldn't give him the assurance he was looking for.

For the first time in centuries, rage filled Yamamoto's very being.

Wisps of steam appeared around him as the very air began to boil, reducing the structures around him to nothing more than cinders.

What lay in front of him was still the Zanpakutos the King of Hollows had created, but he didn't care.

Under the fires of annihilation, all would melt and burn.

He had reserved himself, knowing full well what it would mean if he truly went all out.

Torrents of roaring flame spewed forth from all around him; a sun descending upon the world.

"G-Get back, the Head-Captain's attacking!"

Someone called.

Almost immediately, all the Shinigami flash-stepped behind Yamamoto's back, leaving only the hollows at the front.

The sound of crackling echoed in the air, like burning tinder.

What was flame if not the element that brought about both life and ruin. It was flame that gave light, illuminating the dark and paving a path to a distant future. But it was also flame that scorched the very earth dry.

Husks, ashes, and embers.

The Shinigami of fire stood tall.

A weathered back that knew not any scars appeared before the eyes of the Shinigami as the white Haori of Squad One fell loosely in the wind.

"Ash meets ember, and so there is flame," Yamamoto's grip on his sword tightened, old muscles rippling with a power long forgotten in times of peace.

Expression set in stone, there was a fierceness and resolve in Yamamoto's eyes that would never bend.

"None of you will live for your transgressions, Ryujin Jakka!"

It was a tidal wave of hell fire.

Large torrents of fiery red stretched across the sky, like fingers grasping onto an object.

A mixture of oranges and red, the fire itself appeared alive; smothering the swords in the sky and melting them into globs of searing goo. For all swords were once forged in flame, and so they shall return.

The expression on the Hollow King's face changed.

"Shirou!"

Harribel called in warning.

So, the King of Hollows was named Shirou? No matter, Yamamoto would make sure that it would be a name to be forgotten.

The intensity of the flaming tendrils only seemed to increase further. Black scorch marks marred the ground, and hollows began falling from the sky like flies; the heat causing their skin to bubble.

Yet, as if to defy Yamamoto's intentions, a lone banner stood billowing in the flame. Its regal whites and gold unable to be marred by the blackness of ash.

A banner of purity, tranquility, and faith that suddenly exploded with power.

There was once a woman who fought for her country.

A farmer's girl.

A commoner who knew not of bloodshed and war, yet took up arms anyway.

A Saint.

For God was with her. 

Luminosité Eternelle.

The will and devotion placed upon that banner still remained even without the original owner, for an eternity. The embodiment of a single woman's love for her country, and the desire to protect she left behind.

The Hero of the Hundred-Years War.

Jeanne d'Arc.

It was a light from the heavens that shone down from the world of fire, enshrouding Shirou and the rest in a protective coat of Holy Energy.

It was the greatest contradiction any Shinigami had ever seen. That power was Holy, something perhaps only wielded by the Soul King himself. Yet to see that kind of Holy power protecting hollows, Yamamoto and many other Shinigami were stunned.

Even more so when a giant garganta formed in the sky.

"W-What?!"

Some of the Shinigami staggered back.

Because inside the garganta were numerous Menos Grande, and behind them, something even larger.

Before the Shinigami could even react, pillars of pale yellow enshrouded Shirou and the rest.

Staring up at the garganta, and then to the pillar of pale yellow now surrounding him ad the others, Shirou clenched his fists. He was exhausted, but he couldn't show it. It was best this way to prevent the Shinigami from being able to measure his limits.

And besides.

Shirou's eyes narrowed towards the horizon where Sokyoku Hill was located.

He still needed answers from Aizen.

Moments before,

The land around was deathly silent aside from the ragged breathing of those nearby.

Kukaku was just barely holding on to consciousness, and she was currently using all her effort to glare at Byakuya. It wasn't that she had hated the man before, but what she couldn't forgive is what he did to her brothers.

It was as if Byakuya had gone crazy after saving Rukia, attacking everyone else in the group systematically. Compared to Byakuya, no one was able to stop him, perhaps only Kaien, but he was wrapped in suppressants.

This only made it all the more heart wrenching when he and tossed himself in front of her and Ganju when Byakuya came to attack them.

Ganju was next to be defeated in a fit of rage, and she herself had partaken in it. However, no matter how angry she was, it was a fact that she couldn't amount to much against a Captain-Class Shinigami.

She was thoroughly defeated, and when the blade's edge was descending on her, it was her younger brother who took the blow.

Both of her brothers were stabbed straight through right in front of her eyes. Words couldn't even begin to describe how she felt staring at Byakuya's despondent face, as if he couldn't understand what it was that he had done.

Vision blurring, the last thing she saw was Kaien's fingers twitching.

"Surprised, Captain Kuchiki? I didn't think you would be so savage as to crush those weaker than you," Aizen spoke calmly.

Silently, Byakuya's gaze fell upon the man he had thought he was fighting.

"What is this?" He asked in a soft voice; laced within was a glacial fury that was near its ti[[ing point.

"Oh? You can't tell your own handy work?" Aizen said smiling. "Then again, I suppose I can tell you now, but first a little matter to attend to."

Byakuya's eyes widened when he realized that Rukia was no longer in his arms.

"By your expression, I think that you should rather ask yourself if she was ever in your hands in the first place?" Aizen questioned slowly, Rukia held in his hands as he talked leisurely.

Resisting the impulse to move, Byakuya forced himself to think. Nothing was making sense. Aizen's Zanpakuto was supposed to be of the water type, Byakuya had seen it himself. Clearly though, something was wrong with the situation.

"Kyoka Suigetsu," Aizen said while removing his brown-rimmed spectacles. "It's not what it seems. Rather, it's a very special Zanpakuto. One with the power of Complete Hypnosis."

Another Aizen suddenly appeared by Byakuya with a taunting expression.

"That water type Zanpakuto was never real," Aizen explained.

Shink!

Senbonzakura sailed straight through Aizen, the Aizen before his eyes fading away.

"You're mad, I can tell. Who wouldn't after personally attacking his own sister?"

"Shut up," Byakuya's words were frigid, his hands balled so tightly that the whites of his knuckles were showing.

Pink sakura-like petals circled in a storm of miniature blades around Byakuya, threatening to explode out in all directions.

"Trying to weed me out by attacking everything around you?" Aizen asked, not seeming fazed in the slightest. "Or perhaps its just to cover your own blind spots? In any case, are you really sure of that?"

Almost as soon as Aizen finished speaking, Byakuya got a clear view at what Aizen was staring at.

Kukaku and the rest.

"Moreover," Aizen said reading Byakuya's facial expression. "Is this Rukia in my hands the real Rukia, or is it the one you can't see lying near your feet? I dread to imagine what would happen if those sharp blades of yours were to accidently sweep her up in the current."

Byakuya's expression froze.

This Bastard.

The flowing pink-coloured petals ceased altogether, forming back into Senbonzakura's sword.

Byakuya was at a loss about what to do.

If Aizen indeed possessed complete hypnosis, then how could he be sure that he was attacking who he wanted to? He couldn't be certain of anything, therefore he had to trust in his own senses and judgment. But right now, despite the calmness of his face, his emotions were going haywire. More than anything, he wanted to strike Aizen down at this very moment, but he couldn't.

Not with surety.

"Are we done, Captain Kuchiki?" Aizen asked. "If so, it was admittedly an entertaining spectacle, but I'm afraid it has to end."

Byakuya felt a cold sensation in his chest, only to realize that it was from the steel of a sword.

"This is where our time together ends Captain," Aizen said while pulling out his blade.

There was a squelching sound before blood begun to spurt heavily into the air.

Byakuya buckled onto his knees. He was still injured form the time he went to the human world and hadn't fully recuperated. Another injury was only bringing him closer to passing out.

Yet he forced himself to remain awake long enough to see Aizen walking towards Rukia.

At that moment, he knew that this had to be the real Rukia. Otherwise, why would Aizen continue to use his power on someone already beaten.

Forcing strength into his body, he lashed out, seeming to catch Aizen by surprise.

However, it was someone else who forcibly knocked him out. A hand appeared just off the edge of his vision, gauging a fissure across Byakuya's side.

W-Who!?

Unable to maintain consciousness any longer, Byakuya collapsed on the ground.

Aizen turned around to stare at Kaien Shiba flicking the blood away from his hands.

"Was the act necessary?" Aizen asked off-handily.

"…" Kaien didn't answer, instead scratching his head while his expression creased into a frown.

"I guess it doesn't really matter, but I suggest you go back to lying down. I sense others coming," Aizen spoke.

Kaien nodded his head, and then resumed his earlier position.

"Now then," Aizen muttered while picking Rukia up by the scruff of her neck. "Time to get matters underway."

"I don't think so, Aizen," a voice called approaching from the distance.

Within seconds Yoruichi burst out from the shrubs pulling Ichigo by the arm.

"Hey that hurts!" Ichigo complained, trying to get feeling back into his arm. Yet, at that very moment, he finally registered the scene Yoruichi had brought him to.

"Karin! Everyone!" Ichigo's expression grew panicked seeing their injured states. More so when his eyes landed on Aizen who was still holding Rukia up.

It became clear to him who had been the cause of all this. Anger nearly caused him to charge in, yet Yoruichi forced him back.

"Don't. He's far stronger than whatever you are capable of right now," Yoruichi warned. "Just go get the others while I deal with him."

Ichigo didn't like the feeling of helplessness that took root in him once again. It was why he had trained so hard after his defeat in the Human world, and also his progress when he defeated Renji. To once again be unable to do anything, it almost too hard to accept.

Gritting his teeth, Ichigo eventually relented when his need to make sure the others were okay overwhelmed his desire to avenge them. But still,

"What about Rukia?" Ichigo said cautiously.

Yoruichi glanced at Ichigo, and seeing the determination in his eyes, could only motivate herself further.

"Just leave it to me," she spoke again.

Frowning, Ichigo eventually moved to help Karin and the rest.

"You think you alone are enough?" Aizen asked when Yoruichi approached.

"Honestly," Yoruichi said slowly. "No, but to get Rukia out of your hands, that I have confidence in."