A.N: Good to be getting things out at a respectable pace. Not only did I just publish chapter 4 of the Fairy Tail Campaign (check out the Prologue before reading that if you want to check it out), I managed to get this out. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Let Rose vs. Mathias begin.

Chapter 3: Death God's Dance

Mathias Lourdes lowered his head, as though he were in the middle of a prayer. Rose Ōtoribashi watched him curiously. "In the name of His Majesty, King Muerta." Mathias said quietly.

Mathias pointed his dagger at Rose. "I have the support of the true God King of Hueco Mundo on my side, Soul Reaper, you cannot hope to win with power like that behind me."

Rose raised an eyebrow at this. "You think he cares about you?" He asked.

"I know he does," said Mathias, "His Majesty wants us all to experience the New World, the Arrancar Empire he intends to create.

Rose shook his head at this. "If you think that man actually gives a damn about you, you are foolish."

This statement seemed to anger Mathias. "What gives you the right to make such statements?" Mathias growled angrily.

"Simple experience, I have not met a single man who tries to create a better world while caring about those who serve under him." Rose said, remembering Aizen.

Mathias glared at Rose. He brandished his dagger at Rose. "If you think I will let you insult my king, you are more foolish than you actually look."

Rose drew his sword. "I had a feeling you wouldn't," he admitted, "nobody wishes to hear the names of their leaders dragged through mud, even when it is justified."

Mathias sighed. "How sad," he said, "you use that word, justified, like you understand it. It is sad that you truly do not understand just what is justified and what isn't."

"Oh? Do tell what is justified and what isn't."

"What is not justified is insulting a good man," Mathias said, "what is not justified is killing an innocent woman in cold blood."

Rose blinked in surprise at this. He never killed any innocents, and most certainly not in cold blood. What the hell is he talking about, Rose thought.

"What is justified, however, is taking revenge for that innocent woman." Mathias continued. "You may think that we struck first in this war, Soul Reaper, but sadly you are mistaken."

Rose' eyes widened at what Mathias was insinuating. "It was you Soul Reapers that struck first," Mathias' glare intensified at the memory of Alondra Muerta's body, and his king crying over it, "you who murdered a pacifistic woman for no apparent reason."

"That is unforgivable!" Mathias screamed. "We would not have done anything had you not killed one of our own first!"

"I don't know what you are talking about." Rose said.

"Sadly, I don't care if you do or do not. The only thing I care about is revenge now." Said Mathias. "We are justified in doing this. Everything we have done up until this point was justified!"

Mathias vanished and reappeared in front of Rose. His dagger glistened in the sunlight. Rose quickly blocked the strike with his own blade. Rose could not help but note Mathias' physical strength.

He's strong, Rose thought, going toe to toe with a sword using a dagger.

"Everything was justified," Mathias growled, "all of the killings, all of the sacrifices, all of the torturing, all of it was justified!"

"There is nothing in this world that justifies genocide," Rose countered, "that includes the death of one, innocent or not."

"Sadly, you are wrong, it wasn't just any one person." Said Mathias. "It was one of our leaders a long time ago. She preached peace and harmony in Hueco Mundo, hoping to one day end the needless bloodshed not just in Hueco Mundo, but between our two races."

"You should've stuck with that." Rose growled at Mathias.

"How sad," Mathias growled, "haven't you been listening? It was your kind that killed Lady Alondra! She never harmed anyone and yet she was killed by you Soul Reapers. Why? Because she was a Hollow? She never consumed the souls of humans. That is what you Soul Reapers should have focused on, the Hollows that actually ate humans. Not innocent beings who are also pacifists."

"Instead," Mathias continued, "you made the mistake of killing Lady Alondra for all the wrong reasons. We won't let you get away with an unprovoked attack on our kind. We will destroy you for it!"

Mathias created some distance between himself and Rose. He's a close range fighter, Rose thought, luckily, I can create plenty of distance between us. He won't be able to come near me after this.

"Play," Rose said, "Kinshara!"

Rose' sword transformed into a golden whip with a spike at the end. Mathias watched this with interest. "That dagger of yours won't serve you well anymore." Rose told Mathias.

How sad, Mathias thought, he thinks that it is over just because he has the advantage at the moment.

Rose launched Kinshara at Mathias, who expertly weaved in and out of Kinshara's strikes. Rose briefly pulled back Kinshara, only to send it at Mathias once more. Seeing it coming straight for him, Mathias brought out his dagger and knocked it out of the way. Rose then whipped it to the side and pulled back, causing the spikes at the end to hit Mathias in the back. Kinshara came back to Rose. Seeing him in a daze, Rose launched Kinshara at Mathias once more. The spikes impaled Mathias in the stomach. Mathias gasped in pain. Rose smirked at this.

"Kinshara Sōkyoku Dai Jūichiban - Izayoi Bara!"

Rose tapped the whip and the sound of a guitar string being strum sounded out in the air. Kinshara glowed, all the way to the tip where Mathias was still being held. Once the tip glowed, a vortex of reverberating sound exploded into the air, acting as a shockwave.

That wasn't so bad, Rose thought, thinking he had won the fight, it's a shame I didn't get to play a few more melodies."

Rose was suddenly frozen in place by a rise in spiritual pressure. It wasn't the fact that it was heavy or powerful that had caused Rose to freeze, it was the fact that Mathias Lourdes was somehow still alive.

The smoke caused by the shockwave cleared, revealing a heavily burnt, but still alive Mathias. Mathias glared at Rose.

"How sad," he growled, "no, not just sad. How arrogant! Did you think this would be enough to destroy me? I am a member of His Majesty's Royal Fracciónes. We were all trained by His Majesty himself!"

Rose frowned at Mathias. "Our power exceeds not just a regular Fracciónes, but five of us could fight Espadas 9-6. The strongest of us could fight Espada 5!"

"But enough of that," Mathias continued, "sadly, Soul Reaper, you have made the tragic mistake of underestimating my power. Sadly, you leave me no choice but to show you why I was named the Head of Los Retazos' Torture Department!"

Mathias sheathed his dagger and took out his doll. "Wait, that dagger isn't a representation of your powers?" Rose inquired.

Mathias shook his head. "Not all of us choose to place our true power within a weapon of sorts. Former General Bruto De Poder placed all of his power within a seal. Espada 1, Coyote Starrk, placed his power within a second being that had been a part of his own soul." Mathias explained.

"I, however, chose to seal my power within this voodoo doll," Mathias continued, "it allows me to access a very unique power. known as Dolor. Once the doll is washed by the blood of my enemies, it takes the form of said enemy, allowing me to deal him pain through the doll."

Just like a classic voodoo doll, Rose thought in realization.

"But I am not going to do that to you, Soul Reaper, you have earned something much more."

The doll started to shine. "Torment, Vudú!"

The doll took the form of a ball of light that entered Mathias body. Mathias' body started to grow actual straw out of its pores. The straw formed over Mathias' entire body. Rose could only watch in shock as Mathias became a life-sized voodoo doll. His eyes glowed red inside of two slits.

"Sadly, Soul Reaper," Mathias' voice had also become much more demonic, "I intend to make you suffer in every way possible."

Mathias placed his hand on the ground. Rose found himself unable to move as Mathias continued whatever he was doing. It was a morbid curiosity that kept Rose from moving, a curiosity that Rose would quickly come to regret.

Mathias removed his hand from the ground and stood up straight. He held out his straw hands. Several strands of straw shot from Mathias' body through buildings. Rose watched in surprise as the barely visible straw attached to Mathias' body go through buildings like they were nothing. Suddenly, he heard several cries of pain.

"My Pesquisas does not lie to me," Mathias said, "I have reached every Soul Reaper within range of my technique expect for you."

The straw retracted itself through the buildings, back to Mathias' hands. Rose noticed the blood on each strand of straw that had been retracted. His eyes widened in realization of what had happened. No, he thought.

"Now let your torment begin." Said Mathias.

The doll man held out his hands in front of him. "Ejército!"

Straw started pooling out of Mathias' hands and formed ten different piles. The piles of straw than started to mold into something.

I was right, Rose thought grimly.

Rose could only watch in horror as all ten piles of straw formed into ten unseated Soul Reapers. They even had their own swords. "You bastard," Rose growled at Mathias, "fight your own battles!"

"I see you have figured it out." Said Mathias. "This is the mental part of your torture. Ejército allows me to form my own personal soldiers from the blood of those who were impaled by my straws."

"Since you've figured out that much, I'm sure you realize what will happen if you strike down each soldier."

Rose did not answer. "If you kill any of these voodoo soldiers, the Soul Reaper who's blood was used to make the soldier will die."

I see, Rose thought, the mental torture is making me choose. It's either my life, or the lives of those ten men.

At first glance, Rose thought, it seems like a no-brainer. A captain-class fighter is worth more to the Soul Society than ten unseated Soul Reapers.

However, Rose continued, that is the thought of a selfish man. I'll be damned before I sacrifice my comrades lives for such superficial views.

"Choose, Soul Reaper," Mathias ordered.

Rose smirked. "You think that my only choices are either kill them or let myself die for their sakes?"

"Well," Rose continued, "I choose neither!"

Rose raised a hand. "Bakudō #63, Sajō Sabaku!"

Golden chains wrapped around one of the soldiers. Mathias' eyes widened in surprise. "What you seemed to forget about us Soul Reapers, Mathias Lourdes, is that fighting with our Zanpakutō is not our only fighting method."

Mathias gasped, realizing his mistake. "Bakudō #61, Rikujōkōrō!" Rose continued his Kidō onslaught.

Six golden pillars of light froze another soldier in place. Mathias growled at this. "Kill him!" He ordered the remaining eight soldiers.

The eight remaining voodoo soldiers charged Rose, who remained calm, knowing his strategy was an effective one. Before they could even get close, Rose struck again.

"Bakudō #9, Hōrin!"

An orange-hued tendril shot towards one of the soldiers. It wrapped around its body, effectively binding it. The tendril then made its way to the nearest soldier and wrapped around its body as well. The two soldiers were bound together, incapacitating them both.

A soldier managed to get at Rose. It swung at him with its blade. Rose quickly sidestepped out of the way and prepared a counter.

"Bakudō #30, Shitotsu Sansen!"

A triangle of light pinned the soldier to the nearest building. Rose winced, knowing that the Soul Reaper the voodoo soldier was imitating would feel that impact, as would the two he had bound together, but at least he was not killing them.

Half of the soldiers were incapacitated. The five remaining soldiers all attacked him at the same time.

"This is getting old." Rose muttered. "At least low level Kidō spells can hold them, I won't waste much energy that way."

Rose dodged the first two strikes by moving to the side. He then ducked under the third. It was during the fourth attack, he struck. "Bakudō #4, Hainawa!"

A golden rope entangled the soldier. Rose quickly spun around and faced the fifth soldier. "Hainawa!" Rose shouted again.

The soldier was entangled much like the other. Mathias gritted his teeth in anger at this. It was here, he decided on a different approach. "Stop!" He ordered his soldiers.

The three remaining soldiers froze in place. Rose was confused by this. He then saw Mathias glare at him. "You may have found a way around the options I have given you, Soul Reaper," Mathias growled. "But I have other ways to make you suffer!"

Mathias looked at the soldiers. "I command you three to die!"

Rose' eyes widened at this. No! He thought desperately, preparing to stop them.

It was too late. The soldiers brought their blades to their guts and quickly committed Seppuku. Rose could only watch in horror, knowing that somewhere in the Seireitei, three innocent soldiers were dying for unexplained reasons.

"You monster!" Rose screamed.

"It is sad that I must resort to such barbaric actions, but as the Head of the Torture Department and a loyal servant to His Majesty, I have no other choice." Said Mathias.

"However," Mathias continued, "you have angered me to the point where I don't feel sad about breaking you, Soul Reaper."

Mathias launched his straw. Rose could not react in time and was stabbed in the gut. Rose gasped as the straws withdrew from his body with his blood on them. "I will now proceed to a more physically painful method of torture."

With that, Mathias transformed his body into a replica of Rose, sword and all. "We are now linked, Soul Reaper. Whatever physical pain I feel, you shall feel as well." Said Mathias.

To prove his point, Mathias stabbed himself in the side. Rose cried out as he felt the pain Mathias was feeling. "It is sad that you must die in such a painful way," said Mathias as he stabbed himself in the other side, "it is sad that you were unlucky enough to face me and not one of the others. Than again, you would have been unlucky either way."

Mathias stabbed himself in the gut. Rose coughed up blood and doubled over. "While I would like to prolong this, I must continue the assignment His Majesty gave me. And that is to cause chaos around the Seireitei as he proceeds with his plan."

"You're not going anywhere." Rose growled, feeling the blood drip down from his mouth.

"Sadly, you are in no position to try and stop me," said Mathias, "you cannot hurt me without hurting yourself in the process. You will die here, and I will continue on. I am invincible in this body."

"That may be true," Rose panted, slowly getting to his feet, "but your body still has a soul."

"So?"

"So, I still have one last card to play." Rose replied.

"Bankai," Rose continued, "Kinshara Butōdan!"

Mathias watched in shock as he was surrounded by giant figures. They immediately started to dance. Two hands, one holding a conductors baton, appeared out of nowhere. "What is this?" Mathias asked.

Rose ignored him and began the first phase of his Bankai. "Sea Drift!"

The giant dancers spun around Mathias. They did this until a whirlpool of surging water appeared and struck Mathias. Mathias actually felt pain, but he also felt confusion. How was Rose not effected by this? Did he not just hit him physically?

"Now the second act shall begin," Rose continued, "Prometheus!"

The giant dancers held out their hands and generated fire. Mathias screamed in pain as he felt the flames burn him. "Two elements?" Mathias shouted incredulously. "That is impossible!"

"And you," Mathias glared at Rose, "how do you not feel pain from this?"

Rose smirked. "The answer is simple: How can I feel pain when this is technically not even happening?"

Mathias' eyes widened as realization hit him. "Illusions," he said.

"Exactly," Rose replied.

"Kinshara Butōdan is a dancing troupe of death. It is basically the dance of the Death Gods." Rose explained.

"The first act," Rose continued, "is Sea Drift. The dancers make you feel like you are being crushed by water."

"The second act is Prometheus. The dancers burn you alive."

"As for how I am unharmed by this, allow me to explain: As long as your heart believes this is happening, it will continue to happen to you and you will continue feeling the pain. However, because this is not real, and Kinshara Butōdan is under my control, I will not feel what you feel. My Bankai is the perfect counter for your powers."

"And now," Rose continued, "the final act that will mean your death."

Mathias' eyes widened. "If I die you die with me you fool!" Mathias shouted.

"I already told you, this is technically not real," Rose reminded him, "also, the final act is not a physical attack. It removes the heart, the soul of the victim, effectively killing him without any external or internal injuries. Your soul will simply be removed as the melody comes to an end. I will remain unharmed by all of this."

Rose expression darkened. "There is no way out for you, it is over, Mathias Lourdes." Rose deadpanned.

With that, Rose began the final act. "Ein Heldenleben!"

Mathias screamed in pain as the free hand extracted his 'soul' from his body. Sad, Mathias thought in pain, how sad, I have been outplayed as a torturer.

With those final thoughts, the finale ended and the dancers and the hands vanished. Mathias Lourdes reverted to his original state as he collapsed face first onto the ground. He was dead before he hit the floor.

Rose panted as he examined his injuries. "To think that someone could do this much while doing so little." Rose mused.

Rose turned away from Mathias' body. "No time to waste, I should get these patched up before I even think of returning to the fight."

Rose looked back at Mathias' corpse. "There is no such thing as justifiable revenge, Mathias." Rose said. "If myself and the others had followed your logic, we would've killed a lot of innocent people after our banishment."

"Revenge is nothing but an evil melody that seduces people with its lovely sound. After the song has finished, people are left feeling hollow from their actions. That is, if their quest for revenge doesn't completely destroy them first. Melodies, figurative and literal, are supposed to fill people with joy. Revenge doesn't do that at all."

"I'm sorry you had to learn that the hard way," Rose continued, "but sadly, you didn't give me much of a choice."

Rose turned away from Mathias' body. However, he spoke one last thing before leaving entirely. "I'm sorry about what happened to your king's sister, but that doesn't justify what is happening now. I'll see to it myself that this goes no further if I have to."

A.N: Rose is actually not one of my favorite characters. I do like the guy, but not on the level of Shinji, Ichigo, or Rukia. However, I do think that Kubo should have spent more time developing his abilities (along with plenty of other characters). Bleach, as good as it is, could be much better if more characters were developed and less time focusing on the guys fans really love (sometimes I think Kubo focuses on Hitsugaya, Byakuya, and Kenpachi too much because of their popularity). I just hope the last Arc ties up all the loose ends.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I won't reveal too much for the next chapter, but I will tell you that I intend on revealing a little something of my own design and that it focuses on another battle involving the remaining Royal Fracciónes. Until than, keep your eyes peeled and keep on reading.