Author's Note:
So after careful thought, I have decided to listen to all of you, my readers, and keep the original version of this story up. Thank you for sticking around!
Quick shout out to KratostheGodofWar for being my beta! You rock man.
While you may not see major differences, the story flows better and countless grammar mistakes have been corrected.
For those of you new to the Story, this takes place after chapter 361. It's slow to start, and focuses on ending the battle in an Alternate Universe Setting. For short, the war ends differently than in canon. Please note I have toughened up the Espada greatly as i believed Kubo wrongfully trolled the Espada's level of strength.
Now please enjoy, the remastered version of: Becoming Vasto Lorde
Countdown to the Beginning V
"Sennen Hyoro," Gin Ichimaru exclaimed in mock surprise. Watching as The Tercera Espada was encased in the massive obelisk of ice. "To think Toshiro can already fight at this level. And they said I was a genius."
Tosen bowed his head down slightly, "Likewise, Sui Feng was able to land a direct hit on Barragan with her Bankai. How unfortunate."
As opposed to attempting to help their subordinates, the two Captains chose to wait for their leader to make the first move.
It was here, in the very epicenter of the chaos... the war torn battlefield... that Aizen, leader of the invading Arrancar forces, stood surrounded by the burning flames of the Captain Commander's Shikai.
Silent in his thoughts, he now sensed that his Espada were nothing short of a failure. He had simply overestimated their potential, and now, found himself with no choice but to enter the front lines himself.
"Toshiro's Hyorinmaru definitely packs a punch, wouldn't you say? Aizen-sama?" Gin asked nonchalantly, sensing Harribel's Reiatsu dropping drastically. "He froze her solid."
Aizen ignored the two. Instead, he opted to stare at the flames before him. "I never thought, that after all the trouble I put into gathering the Espada, that I alone would be more powerful than the lot of them." He conceded, more to himself than his two subordinates.
"Don't go blamin yourself on their performance. This was anticipated after all, but now I think we hit a little snag. Don't cha think?" Gin replied while he bore his usual fox grin.
"Only Starrk remains capable of fighting. Even he cannot take on Hitsugaya, Komamura, Sui Feng, Ukitake, Shunsui, and the Captain Commander alone." Tosen addressed quietly.
"I agree, Starrk shouldn't have needed to release until a much later time." Aizen spoke solemnly. His calm expression covering his irritation.
'Such a sloppy performance' Aizen thought resignedly.
The presence of Yamamoto's crushing reiatsu appearing before the Primera caused Gin to smirk. "Amazing, Starrk isn't even batting an eyelash. Nevertheless, the old man will go all out from the beginning, Starrk won't stand a chance."
"Starrk will meet the same end as his brethren if he is left to his own devices… he might as well considering he is now all alone, which is his greatest fear. Death… will be his escape from his loneliness." Tosen stated.
"Death… shall we fill the skies with the smell of it?" Aizen proposed as he held up his right index finger in front his chest and began exerting a decent amount of reiatsu.
When his hands began exerting a bright green glow, Gin cocked his head slightly to the side, "Spatial Displacement? You sure you wanna be using a forbidden Kido of that level for something as small as this? You sure are scary, Aizen-sama"
(Starrk VS. Ukitake and Shunsui – Several minutes before Aizen, Gin, and Tousen escaped the fire prison)
"Your release is pretty amazing; I didn't expect you to reveal it so easily." Shunsui said.
"I am interested in experiencing the battle capabilities of your Bankai. Will you both show me?" Starrk said while rising up from his crouched position and revealing his Resurreccion fully to both captains.
"Both? You want to face two Bankai's." Shunsui asked interestedly.
"Both? You want to battle me and Shunsui too? Sorry we don't do two on one fights." Ukitake said confusedly. 'How strong is he to think he can take on two bankai's' he thought in surprise.
The Primera slowly raise his smaller gun.
Shunsui noticed that the gun wasn't aiming at them, so he didn't bother trying to defend himself.
"You have no choice." Starrk said seriously while he pulled the trigger.
A thin black beam shot out of the gun and surged towards the two captains.
Shunsui thinking nothing of the beam as it approached his right side, keep a calm face.
Unfortunately the beam didn't stay thin. The moment it passed him the beam suddenly released a loud, echoing, screeching noise at the same time as it expanded one-hundred fold which reached just inches short of reaching the eighth division captain.
Shunsui's eyes widened as the intensity of the black beam began to scorch his arm. When the shot began to recede in size, and finally ended, Starrk lowered the gun.
Ukitake, realizing the danger the Primera now presented, quickly released his sword. 'The attack… it could have ended us if it connected…'
"All Waves, Rise now and Become my Shield, Lightning, Strike now and Become my Blade, Sogyo no Kotowari!" Ukitake exclaimed.
Starrk uninterestingly glanced at the newly released Zanpakuto as Shunsui began speaking to him.
"A black Cero" Shunsui said, his face showed one of absolute shock. He had never felt a cero like. Its intensity was incredible, but the aura of that beam was unmistakable…. It was no doubt a cero. 'I have never seen a black one before.'
"A fully powered cero, Cero Oscuras, is an Espada's cero. Only the top Espada have the ability to control and use it." Starrk explained seriously.
"Shunsui… you won't use your Bankai will you?" Ukitake asked seriously.
"No… I will eventually though."
"No, don't. You shouldn't use it out here where anyone could see."
"Unleash your Bankai Captain-san; I won't go easy on…" Starrk was interrupted by a quickly approaching Reiatsu signature.
"It seems your leader is coming."
The moment the Primera finished speaking, Yamamoto appeared before him in a flurry of flames. Flames that were hot enough to even have his own subordinates falter back.
"You're the last." The Commander told the Espada. The calmness once found in his voice now replaced with absolute authority.
Stark shrugged, "Harribel and Barragan are not to be underestimated"
"Shunsui, Ukitake stand aside. There is no need to prolong this on a second longer than it needs to be. I will turn him to ash," Yamamoto declared.
"Hai Yama-jii." Shunsui and Ukitake said in unison as the aged Captain stepped forward.
Starrk rapidly pointed his gun to Yamamoto and was about to pull the trigger when a bright green light flashed out between them, blinding everyone present.
The sound of steel clashing with steel resonated in the air and when the light finally died down,
Shunsui and Ukitake stood, Zanpakuto locked with Gin's and Tosen's
"I would prefer that you fight us as well." Aizen demanded, standing before the Captain Commander.
"My oh my, the boss decides to take the front lines. How embarrassing that you couldn't get your Espada to finish what you set out for them to accomplish, eh Aizen?" Shunsui replied calmly.
"Enough, Aizen." Ukitake snapped in annoyance. "Enough blood has been spilt. End this madness! You have already lost."
"Contrary to that thought, you lost the moment we escaped. I admit my mistake when saying I wouldn't have to lift a finger. But I will correct myself… You will lose simply because my skills surpass yours." Aizen began, his reiatsu rising.
"Say what you will, you are down to one Espada, and you three youngsters are nothing special." Yamamoto declared.
"Gin, Tosen... go." Aizen ordered.
"I'll get the Espada. No more fooling around" Shunsui stated while staring at Starrk.
"I'll take Aiz-" Ukitake was interrupted.
"No, I will take Aizen." Yamamoto commanded.
"I guess your opponent is me then." Ukitake said as he looked at Gin and Tousen.
"NO!" a booming voice bellowed.
Tousen swiftly turned around while bringing his Zanpakuto up to block the powerful blow that descended on him.
"So predictable, Komamura…" Tosen sighed
Captain of the seventh division, Sajin Komamura, growled at his former friend. "I'll fight Tousen." Komamura yelled.
"Then it's settled." Yamamoto called out. "As soon Sui Feng and Hitsugaya rest up, they will back us up. There is no time to be noble and fight one on one duels, we will risk everything for the protection of the World of the Living and the Soul Society!"
"Your captains won't be joining us." Starrk stated emotionlessly.
Suddenly everyone felt high levels of reiatsu in the vicinity that Sui Feng had fought.
Yamamoto's eyes widened, truly surprised at the reiatsu signature. 'If he's still alive... Then the other must be as well.'
(Sui Feng and Omaeda VS. Barragan - Minutes after her Bankai "obliterated" Barragan)
"It appears that the strongest one has released and Aizen has escaped, we must help them. " Sui Feng ordered weakly.
"Of course captain, but your arm, and if you insist on going you must rest. You'll only be in the way if you aren't as strong as you can be." Omaeda practically begged.
Sui Feng, who made to turn, stopped. "You're not as much of an idiot as I thought." She slowly rested her back against a building… if only for a couple minutes." She finished while taking a deep breath.
"To tell you the truth, I didn't think my Bankai would defeat him with one hit. I was lucky." She mumbled tiredly.
"I've never seen your Bankai captain, it was amazing." Her lieutenant told her, he was trying to hide the fact that he was still shaking from holding off Segunda Espada for his captain.
"You're just happy I saved you." She corrected.
"Captain why must you say that, I was worried about you." Omaeda whispered.
"Well don't be" Sui Feng winced at the reality that her arm was still causing her great pain. 'I wasn't paying attention when I was fighting, but now…'
(Minutes later)
"Captain, about your arm, there must be something you could do, Captain Unohana could," Omaeda asked.
"No, Unohana can't repair limbs, but that acquaintance of Kurosaki Ichigo's can repair my arm." Sui Feng stated as everything grew quiet for a moment.
"The smoke is still there." Omaeda said while drawing attention to the plume of smoke above them. "Is that an effect of your Bankai?"
"This is the first time I used it in actual combat, but I'm sure it's the after effects." Sui Feng said as she turned away from it. "I can't sense any reiatsu coming from it." She paused, "Look I'm going to feel guilty if I don't say this, but thanks for catching me."
"Thanks captain, I…"
As a colossal wave of reiatsu abruptly descended upon the two, their heads shot skyward; the look of pure disbelief in their eyes. It was coming from the cloud.
"Damn, this can't be. I thought he was dead, No… he was dead."
The cloud began to disappear and when most of the smoke had cleared, they could see the silhouette of the Espada facing their way, deadly still.
"C…c…c…captain can you use your Bankai again?" A frightened Omaeda asked taking a few steps back. His captain's frustrated and worry stricken face answered his question.
"I have a limit of once every hour. He won't let us stall... Not this time."
"I'll distract him again." Omaeda offered. For some reason he felt happy for his captain's compliment, maybe it was because it was a first.
The Arrancar, high above them, began to let out a hollow laugh before speaking.
"You forgot one of basic abilities we Espada have. I may have given up my regeneration for greater attack power, but an Espada can still regenerate albeit very slowly. You gave me ample time to do just that!"
'It's not that I didn't remember it, I would be foolish to not think an Espada can regenerate, it was only my assumption he had perished that clouded my judgement, and allowed me to lower my guard.' Sui Feng thought 'My Bankai...took more out of me than I care to admit.' Sui Feng realized. 'I couldn't sense him at all. Even if I could have…Omaeda'
"Yes, and you won't have a second chance." Barragan began, vanishing with Sonido
"Prepare yourself Omaeda." She told her vice-captain as they felt him approach.
"What's the plan?"
Omaeda was shaking, but put up a brave front.
"I'm thinki-"
"CAPTAIN LOOK OUT" Sui Feng's vice-captain grabbed the back of his captain's Shinigami robes and suddenly threw her, away from him with all his might. Sui Feng's eyes widened at the sudden act.
As she flew, what she saw next, she knew would haunt her forever. Barragan appeared on the exact place where she stood seconds before. Unfortunately Omaeda stood there as well.
"RUN OMAEDA." She yelled, her voice cracking.
Omaeda turned to run but the effects of the Espada's Respira took effect much faster than before.
"CAPTAIN!" Omaeda screamed, calling out for help. Sui Feng's eyes met his one last time before his skin rotted away, his bones turning to dust before even reaching the ground.
Sui Feng felt herself freeze up at what she had just seen.
'He sacrificed himself for me.' She thought weakly.
"I warned him that I would kill him." Barragan told Sui Feng
She was surprised when she felt a single tear fall from her cheek. She may not have like him, but he was still her lieutenant. It was her duty to protect him.
"You'll pay." She whispered as she slowly wiped the tear from her face.
Barragan sounded amused as reiatsu began pouring out of her body. "Oh, where did you find this strength? We Espada have studied your techniques for months leading to this invasion. Your Shunko was supposed to be incomplete."
The power that was pouring out of her body began encompassing her in a barrier of chaotic, white reiatsu.
"MUKYU SHUNKO!"
The Reiatsu she was releasing suddenly began to revolve around her body like a whirlpool, almost giving Sui Feng the appearance of butterfly wings.
"You're not very fast are you Espada? Well, you'll regret that in a moment." She said while holding up her stinger shaped Zanpakuto release. "You will die by Suzumebachi."
"Come!" Barragan ordered, "Let's see if your new form can overcome time…
Sui Feng vanished before his very eyes, and appeared twenty feet behind him less than a second.
Sui Feng, a smiled playing on her lips, took a step forward; stumbling as she did so.
"You missed Shinigami, I on the other hand… didn't." Sui Feng looked down and saw a pitch black axe sticking out of her stomach.
She slowly turned around and saw the axe was connected to a chain that the Espada held, she knew what would the moment she laid eyes on it.
"Gran Caida. Your guillotine" He pulled the chain and Sui Feng could do nothing to stop him.
'Is this the end?' she thought as she felt the hand of her opponent wrap tightly around her throat.
'Omaeda… Yuroichi-sama… I've fail. I...I'm...'
"Sui Feng... an unworthy opponent... farewell."
The last thing the Captain saw and heard before she turned to nothing but dust was the Espada's, cold, empty eyes and his cold, heartless laugh.
Baraggan made to turn, sensing that Harribel's reiatsu was almost gone, when he slowly began to revert to his pre-resurreccion form. 'What is this?' He thought when his body started to get covered in odd shaped markings and he felt his strength leave him.
After losing the strength to stand, Baraggan collapsed. His body paralyzed.
"I can't… move… how did… damn that…Captain, she did… this." He growled weakly, it was the only explanation he could think of, before pain engulfed him and he felt his life drain away.
Sui Feng, instead of accepting death, had pierced him twice in each spot that bore a mark on his body...
The Captain's Begin To Fall!