"Gentlemen, you have all received the battle plan, I presume."
"In this operation, Nobunaga will serve as the Commander-in-Chief, with Sengoku and Tsuru as his deputies. Sakazuki and Linlin will lead their respective divisions as the vanguard to secure a foothold for our main army's invasion."
"The main army will strike openly while the Onmitsukidō provides covert support from the shadows. We have but one objective: the total and absolute annihilation of the enemy!"
"We will leave no threat behind. Every last one of them must be silenced!"
"That is all!"
..........
On the western side of the Seireitei, the nearby souls had already been evacuated, and the land and buildings around the Hakudaomon were forcibly requisitioned.
Squads of Onmitsukidō members erected barriers, sealing off the surrounding Rukongai and a portion of the Seireitei's interior.
From a distance, it looked like a murky bowl inverted over the land of the Soul Society.
Within the barrier, Ren stood upon a raised vantage point, looking down at the mobilization below.
Dozens of Senkaimon stood tall. Ranks of burly soldiers marched out with heads held high, clutching firearms and cannons as they formed up for battle.
A murderous chill permeated the air.
Behind Ren, Sengoku—clad in his Justice coat—pushed up his black-rimmed glasses.
"Following our prior coordination, every department is now fully prepared for combat."
"Aside from the original garrison of the City of the Yellow Springs, our entire force has been mobilized. We've deployed two thousand armored elites, three thousand from various other units, and the masters of the Onmitsukidō. Five thousand troops in total."
"The enemy is still basking in their peaceful delusions. They won't expect a surprise attack of this magnitude. With our preparation against their negligence, we cannot lose!"
Beside him, Nobunaga rested a foot on a wooden chair and stroked his stubbly chin. Watching the military display below, a smile of excitement crossed his weathered face.
"Two armies clashing... this is the kind of grand war I've been waiting for!"
"Even though we are well-prepared, keep an eye on the troops. Don't let them grow too arrogant. They must remain cautious."
"Pride goeth before a fall. History is full of examples where a guaranteed victory was snatched away by a weaker foe through sheer complacency."
Nobunaga's boisterous voice held a note of steady wisdom.
In life, he had personally demonstrated how the weak could overcome the strong, utterly shocking the daimyo and protectors of that era!
Sengoku nodded solemnly. "I understand."
Ren looked down at the soldiers, his brow furrowing slightly in internal conflict.
"The style of the soldiers' armor... I recall Walter designed it, right?"
"That's correct."
Tsuru closed her notebook and noticed the expression on Ren's face, looking puzzled.
She followed his gaze to the soldiers arrayed below.
"My King, is there a problem?"
"It's nothing, just asking..."
Ren waved her off, but his gaze remained fixed on the armored ranks, his face betraying a hint of helplessness.
Each of these elite soldiers wore thick, sturdy, pure white armor. Their chest plates, tire-like pauldrons, and the centers of their helmets were all emblazoned with golden skull motifs.
They wore pig-snout helmets that completely encased their heads, fitted with high-strength goggles. They carried various firearms, with revolvers holstered at their waists.
Captain-level officers wore white capes that billowed slowly as they marched.
These armored elites were selected from the strongest of the Marines and pirates, each over two meters tall, burly and brave.
From afar, they looked like iron monoliths standing on the ground, radiating a majestic and inviolable presence.
Had they not possessed the powerful physiques of those from the Great Pirate era, ordinary people would never have been able to carry such heavy Kido armor, let alone charge and fight in it.
Yet it was this very appearance that looked all too familiar to Ren, giving him a lingering sense of unease.
'Dammit!'
'Why does this look so much like Astartes gear?!'
'Are these guys going to start shouting "For the Emperor" when they charge?'
Walter had designed the armor's aesthetics. Considering where he lived before his death, it was likely an intentional move!
Although this wasn't the first time Ren had seen them, every time he did, he felt a deep sense of conflict alongside the headache.
'Will I end up sitting on a golden toilet too?!'
He had been lightheaded when he approved the blueprints, actually letting himself be talked into it by Walter.
Once they were manufactured and Ren saw the physical result, it was too late for regrets.
'Forget it, whatever happens, happens.'
So much effort had gone into the manufacturing process; he couldn't just destroy them for the sake of his ego.
With the great war looming, everything else would have to wait!
Ren made a mental note that the next batch of Kido armor absolutely had to look different.
On the slope, Nobunaga and the others were double-checking the operational details.
The soldiers from the City of the Yellow Springs continued to gather, pouring through over a dozen Senkaimon.
Armed to the teeth, capes fluttering, they were ready to deploy!
At the front of these elite forces stood Sakazuki and Charlotte Linlin, each leading their own units as the vanguard.
Between the two stood a petite young girl with a Zanpakutō at her waist, surrounded by Uchiha elite guards.
Amanai Riko!
*Rumble...*
The ground trembled slightly as a massive figure emerged from the Hakudaomon.
He was about seven meters tall, dressed in Gothic-style clothing. His exposed skin was a dull, pale blue, and he had reddish-purple hair shaped like a scallion, with sharp horns on his head. A vertical surgical stitch ran from the center of his face down his long neck.
He grinned broadly, revealing sharp fangs and a row of jagged teeth as he stepped out, dragging his round belly.
This demonic appearance belonged to none other than Gekko Moria!
Moria held a mass of shadows in his sharp hands, dragging it out from the gate and stretching the shadow wide and long.
Upon Moria's arrival, members of the Onmitsukidō appeared, their hands forming various seals as they chanted incantations.
They cast Kido to firmly anchor the mass of shadows.
Dragging the shadows before Sakazuki and Charlotte Linlin, Moria wore a look of defiant arrogance.
"Big Mom, Akainu, and you little girl—I've dragged the Seireitei's shadow over!"
"Don't forget what you promised me!"
The mass of shadows was like putty in Moria's hands, allowing him to mold it into a rectangular shape over ten meters wide, spreading it across the ground.
Charlotte Linlin's face contorted into a hideous scowl. "Moria, who do you think you're talking to?"
Sakazuki's expression was cold as ice, full of disdain. "Still haven't lost your pirate habits, Moria."
Surrounded by guards, Amanai Riko stepped forward and looked up at Moria, patting her chest confidently.
"Rest assured, Mr. Moria. Once this battle is over, your companions' souls will be returned to you. We won't interfere further."
"Hee-hee-hee-hee! That's more like it."
Hearing this, Moria let out a shrill laugh and made way for Amanai Riko.
Riko drew the Zanpakutō from her waist and walked toward the mass of shadows on the ground.
Looking at the ink-black shadow, Riko took a deep breath, her Spiritual Pressure surging within her.
She raised her Zanpakutō and slowly recited the release command.
"Sever everything, Kiritsugu!"
A cold, clear light shimmered on the slender blade, exuding a sharpness that felt as if it could cut through all creation.
Whether it was Moria standing nearby or Sakazuki and Big Mom behind her, all felt a sense of lethal danger just from looking at the blade.
It was as if the space ahead was filled with countless invisible blades, and stepping forward would mean being sliced into a thousand pieces.
"What a dangerous ability, hee-hee-hee-hee!"
"Mama-mama! To think this little girl would know Ren's techniques. What an unexpected development."
"We're about to storm the enemy's base. Stop gawking!"
Amanai Riko ignored their surprise, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
She knew that once she struck with this blade, a hidden war would erupt within the shadows of the Seireitei, and countless lives would be lost.
Facing the shadows, Riko held her sword and calmed her racing heart, her gaze becoming resolute.
"Ha!"
She swung the blade, releasing the compressed Spiritual Pressure in a single burst.
A silver-white, crescent-shaped strike manifested, surging with overwhelming power as it slammed into the shadow on the ground.
*Crack!*
*Crack, crack!*
The sound of shattering glass rang out as large patches of the shadow-space fractured, their edges appearing as jagged as a saw.
In the center of the shadow, a deep spatial tunnel appeared.
Standing at the edge, Amanai Riko leaned over to peer inside.
Through the tunnel, a cluster of buildings in a Western European style came into view within the depths of the shadow.
Likely due to being hidden in shadow for so long, the space inside was quite dim, making it difficult to see clearly.
The people hidden within the shadows noticed the massive hole appearing above them at the same time, and a commotion immediately broke out.
Those with quick reactions rushed to the rooftops, craning their necks to observe the fractured space above.
"The Lord was right; there really are people hiding in the shadows."
Amanai Riko stood up and took two steps back. The Uchiha elites immediately moved to shield her.
She turned to Sakazuki and the others, nodding firmly.
"The passage is open. We can begin the assault!"
As soon as she finished speaking, a dark red trail streaked past her.
Dark red magma, carrying a sweltering heatwave, surged forward and plunged into the shadow's spatial tunnel.
Only a raspy, stern voice remained, echoing through the area.
"Vanguard, follow me!"
Hearing the command, squads of soldiers in heavy armor raised their weapons. With heavy strides, they ran to the edge of the shadow.
In an orderly fashion, they leapt into the spatial tunnel.
Among them, black-clad members of the Onmitsukidō flickered in and out of sight, hiding their presence as they mixed with the descending vanguard.
"Mama-mama, Riko-chan, you did a great job. Now, make sure you protect yourself and don't get caught up in the mess."
Charlotte Linlin offered a few comforting words to Riko while clutching her blade, then led her children as they leapt in one after another.
Inside the shadows, the Quincies looked up, watching white figures pour in from the space above like falling rain.
Amidst the white rain, dark red magma radiating intense heat flowed down the edges of the space, forming a towering pillar of molten rock.
"This is..."
"Could it be that the Soul Reapers have discovered us?!"
"That outfit doesn't look like a Soul Reaper's!"
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
"Quickly, notify Lord Haschwalth and the members of the Sternritter!"
"We must stop these enemies!"
While the Quincies were overwhelmed by the sudden strike, Ren watched from above as squads of soldiers dropped in. Seeing everything going smoothly, he nodded privately.
"Once the vanguard sends the signal, the rest of the army will deploy."
"The Onmitsukidō has already infiltrated. The main force will ensure our rear and logistics!"
"Understood!"
Nobunaga and the others nodded solemnly, exchanging looks with Sengoku.
Sengoku nodded back and descended the slope into the army to take command.
Under Sengoku's direction, the army marched with synchronized steps toward the shadow tunnel in front of the Hakudaomon.
Under heavy protection, Amanai Riko maintained the stability of the spatial tunnel.
Just then, a massive fist made of magma shot out from the shadow, soaring high into the sky before exploding.
Within the confines of the barrier, it turned into a brilliant firework.
"Sakazuki sent the signal!"
Sengoku's face hardened as he watched the signal.
He turned to the army behind him and swept his hand forward!
"All units, begin the assault!"
"Maintain order! Locate your comrades immediately upon landing and hold the formation!"
At Sengoku's command, the army surged forward!
The soldiers moved with discipline, following the original plan as they leapt into the shadow space in sequence.
"Hahaha, Sengoku, I'm heading in too!"
"Ara ara, Garp-san is as dashing as ever. Wait for me!"
"Gurarara! Sons, charge with me!"
"Pops, wait for me and Ace! And don't charge so fast!"
"Worororo! I'm definitely going to enjoy myself this time!"
"Jack, keep up with Big Brother Kaido. I have another mission!"
On the hill, Ren watched the army storm the battlefield under the command of Sengoku and the others.
Suddenly, Ren felt a thin thread in his consciousness being tugged. Shisui's voice echoed in his mind.
"My Lord, people from the Seireitei are approaching. It's the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 and his men."
"Send someone to delay them!"
"As you wish, My Lord!"
As Shisui's voice faded, Ren's brow began to furrow.
Seeing this, Nobunaga couldn't help but ask, "Did another problem arise?"
"Yes. Yamamoto Shigekuni is coming with his men," Ren said heavily.
Nobunaga thought for a moment, a look of calm acceptance on his face.
"We've made such a huge commotion here. Although this barrier blocks external investigation, the barrier itself is quite conspicuous from the outside."
"It's expected that he would come to check it personally. He is the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, after all."
"I've already sent people to stall them," Ren said, turning to give an order. "Tell Sengoku to have them move faster!"
"Understood."
Outside the barrier, on the streets of the Seireitei.
Yamamoto Shigekuni held his wooden staff. His aged face showed no sign of emotion, only a profound calm as he walked toward the barrier with steady steps, his white haori swaying behind him.
Beneath his greyed eyebrows, his eyes were ancient and plain, showing no trace of the sharpness from his younger days as the 'Sword Demon.'
He stood like a great mountain upon the earth—lofty, deep, and heavy!
Behind him were three Soul Reapers.
One wore a standard Shihakushō with a white jinbaori over it, his face set in a serious expression with a small black mustache. He wore the lieutenant's armband of the First Division on his left arm, bearing the chrysanthemum insignia of the division.
Lieutenant of the First Division, Chōjirō Sasakibe.
Of the remaining two, one had brown, wavy hair held by two hairpins and wore a straw hat that shaded his stubbly face.
Over his captain's haori, he wore a flamboyant pink kimono, which partially obscured the two Zanpakutō at his waist.
Captain of the Eighth Division, Shunsui Kyōraku.
The other had white hair tied simply in a bundle behind his head. He had sharp, heroic eyebrows but a gentle face, and he also wore a white captain's haori.
Captain of the Thirteenth Division, Jūshirō Ukitake!
Upon witnessing the massive disturbance at the Hakudaomon of the Seireitei, Yamamoto Shigekuni had not hesitated to personally lead his subordinates and students to investigate.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]