Chapter 7: Heart of Lightening

The third division's officers looked on in anticipation as Etsuo struggled to get to his feet, Rei slowly walked towards him, the lightening blade trailing through the earth.

"Restrain Kusari-Jigoku." Etsuo shouted.

The chains flew at Rei, wrapping around her limbs.

"You've done this before Etsuo, I am not impressed. Be static Kizuato."

Etsuo smirked, stabbing his zanpakuto into the ground; he left it and ran towards Rei, facing his palm at her.

"Hado thirty-three sokatsui."

A large wave of blue fire completely smothered Rei.

"Bakudo seventy five Gochutekkan."

A bright light shone above Rei, Five tall, thick pillars fell from the light, pinning Rei's smouldering body to the ground.

"Time to finish this, Hado…"

The pillars exploded, Rei managed to stand up despite being constricted by the chains, lightening bolts formed around her, Etsuo could feel her spiritual pressure rising. The third division's officers looked scared, they knew what was coming.

"Etsuo, you've impressed me, you are living up to your reputation. Now the true challenge begins, this next moment will decide whether you get a bankai. Whenever you see this lightening cloak around me, it means that I've accumulated enough spiritual pressure to use my bankai, so brace yourself."

She managed to loosen the restraint on her right arm; using it she grabbed her zanpakuto and pierced her heart with the lightening blade.

"Let me be your heart, Kizuato kaminari no Kyojin."

Etsuo could only stare as a figure of blue lightening formed and grew around Rei, the figure was gigantic at least twenty times the height of her, completely dwarfing him. Rei was positioned directly where the heart would be, if the giant were human.

She is the heart of a lightening god!

The giant seemed to move in line with how Rei was moving.

This truly is a terrifying bankai.

Rei punched downwards, the giant pulverised Etsuo and his surroundings, electricity flowed through him, cutting and frying his flesh. Barely conscious Etsuo looked around, the surrounding area was decimated it looked like a small meteorite had hit the ground. Unable to feel the scorched earth burning his skin, he started losing consciousness. He could hear something faint.

"Take me, use me, and endure. Hold on until you are barely breathing, then at that exact point, your lowest point, you will be able to use my full power."

Kusari-Jigoku?


"Rena are you ready for tomorrow."

"In all honesty Megumi, I don't think I can do it, I'm no good with high pressure situations."

"Listen, its only a simple captain proficiency exam, I've seen you flourish over the years as my lieutenant. I'm confident you'll pass, there's even a party planned after, so everyone assumes you'll pass."

"The party's the last thing on my mind, I actually need to pass first."

"Come on stop worrying, all you really have to do is show them your bankai."

"Captain given I pass, which I probably won't, who do you plan on taking to the party?"

"Well hopefully I'll be able to drag Zanjiro along with me."

"You think he'll go?"

"He will to see his dad, Renji. It's just persuading him to go with me."

"I'm sure he will, who will be present at the exam?"

"There will be me, head capatain Ryuusuke of course, captain Shizuka, captain Doami and captain Tsukino."

"Captain Shizuka, oh gosh, he's so intimidating, he'll put me off."

There was a knock at the door, Megumi's third seat entered.

"Sorry to disturb you captain Koizumi, but Captain Shizuka requests that you see him immediately regarding the exam tomorrow."

"Strange, Satomi tell him I'll be there in five minutes, Rena good luck tomorrow."

Satomi looked at Rena, her blue eyes started watering, she looked petrified, she always seemed uneasy whenever captain Shizuka was mentioned.


Both Ryuusuke and Kinnosuke entered the head captains' quarters laughing, as they walked towards Ryuusuke's desk, the desk chair turned. They both screamed.

'Yuna! Don't do that, we've just returned from a fight, we could've attacked you." Ryuusuke yelled.

"Captain, you both just screamed, and neither of you had your zanpakutos ready. Yours isn't even with you."

"Shit! I must have left it in England."

Yuna let out a sigh, shaking her head with disappointment.

"What happened to you two?"

"Basically, Kinnosuke's fifth seat decided to kill a load of humans and kill him. The surge of spiritual pressure seemed to come from ingesting a pill, some sort of spiritual pressure enhancer, I think. At the moment neither of us two knows of any reason for this attack."

"We can assume that there's more than one traitor amongst the seireitei, considering there were several spiritual pressure peaks around the world. What happened to Hibiki?"

Kinnosuke stepped forward, suddenly looking very serious.

"He died after taking another pill, his body couldn't handle the build up of spiritual pressure. At the moment lieutenant Karukai is investigating the area with other members of the thirteenth division. It's safe to assume that there must be at least one captain level shinigami orchestrating these attacks, if this pill is distributed to shinigami around the seireitei the results could be catastrophic."

"Captain, at the scene of the explosion lieutenant Ikoma found some burn marks left only from a corrosive element, I believe it's from a zanpakuto's ability, namely captain Shigeyo's zanpakuto."

"Yuna you do realise the extent of this claim let me take a close look at it first." Kinnosuke interjected.

"If this is proven to be true we need to be discreet in arresting captain Shigeyo. His squad is loyal to him, the last thing we need is a revolution. I'll go with Rei once you get the result Kinnosuke, he can't take on two of the most powerful captains, so he should just come peacefully."

"And if he doesn't?" Yuna said, strongly doubting Ryuusuke.

"I'll wipe him from Soul Society."


Captain Shigeyo sat in the sixth division's courtyard meditating, he could hear zanpakutos clashing from his training grounds, he knew his plans were maturing and had to be prepared for the battle ahead. Footsteps could be heard approaching him.

"Captain Shigeyo, they know."

"I assumed they did Hyata."

"They will come after you soon, its obvious your shikai was used at the sight of the explosion on the fourth division. What do you plan to do?"

"I plan to submit, and face imprisonment. When the time is right I will need you to free me, until then just leave me."

"When does he plan to attack?"

"Soon, he has a plan that will shake Ryuusuke, so until then just keep doing your job as the third seat of the twelfth division. Don't draw any more attention to us, surprise is key to our victory."