9. Dämon gegen den Dämon
KUROSAKI HOUSEHOLD
Ichigo entered Shinigami mode. His trusted Zangetsu around his shoulder strap. He suddenly remembered Nyu which motivated him further to find out the cause of the recent disturbance.
~Please be okay Nyu~
As he navigated the labyrinth of New Karakura's streets he could hear loud clashes and explosions. A battle was commencing but Ichigo's poor spirit sensing abilities couldn't tell him who or what exactly was fighting.
"I have to hurry." Ichigo said to himself.
NEW KUROSAKI – BELL TOWER
After Kouta awoke from his brief unconsciousness he observed a figure suspended in the sky. He could also see the explosions and flying sparks of a large battle.
~That has to be her~
As he descended the fragile stairs he fell through a weak piece of timber and hurt his leg.
"Argh! I don't think I can walk now." He winced. However he managed to limp down the tower. He would eventually be able to make it to the scene but the battle may have ended by then.
~Damn it. I won't make it in time.~
Kouta hoped the worst wouldn't happen whilst he slowly travelled along the streets of New Karakura.
A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE BATTLE AREA
Rukia, Kurama and Tatsuki could now make out the person in the sky. Kurama knew this person as Lucy – Rukia knew her as Nyu. Tatsuki just thought it was another of those hollows that Ichigo and the others used to fight.
"Dammit we're too late!" Kurama blasted. "Bando will not be able to defeat her like this."
Rukia turned to Kurama "Bando?"
"He is one of my close comrades as he worked for me to destroy the Diclonius in the real world back at Kamakura. Once he died he became a Shinigami."
Rukia never heard of this man but was now interested. "What seat is he?"
Kurama adjusted his lenses. "He is captain...of eleventh squad."
Rukia gulped "Eleventh squad – the fiercest squad of the Gotei 13?"
"That's right. He replaced Kenpachi Zaraki who was recently defeated by the Diclonius Lucy."
"Lucy?" Rukia was even more confused now.
"Lucy is that girl in the sky." Kurama pointed her out.
Rukia fell to her knees knowing all to well who she was. "She defeated Zaraki?"
"Bando is a fierce fighter." Kurama commented. "But he will be no match for her by himself. We should inform Soul Society for reinforcements."
Rukia remembered something. "The limiter seal!"
"Sorry." Kurama was unfamiliar to this concept.
"Every captain class Shinigami automatically enters the real world with a seal that limits their power to twenty percent of its normal level."
"Right. We better let him know. Lets go!" Kurama led the trio to the battleground.
MEANWHILE...
CLASH. GRIND. CLANG. The sounds of a fierce battle were echoed into the town. Bando was facing a strong opponent. He rolled as he dodged a volley of falling vectors.
~Dammit this is just like the first battle we had! I can't get anywhere near her to strike~
Bando channelled his spiritual pressure so he could just make out the many vectors. "AHA! I can see them now bitch!"
Lucy responded by sending all her vectors on her right straight towards Bando. He quickly jumped out of the oncoming strike an commando rolled behind a building.
"Is it fun Bando?" Lucy called out. "Are you having fun with this battle.
Bando took a moment to take a breather. He sighed "Yes! I am captain of the eleventh squad! Fighting is always fun until one of us dies."
With his newfound confidence he let out a massive strike with Mukanjoo, the open side without Nana's stuck body. Lucy anticipated the slow predictable move and broke Nana from the blade.
"Hey thanks girl. I can swing this with ease now." Bando barked as he went for another strike with the other end. The blades of apathy bent and twisted as Lucy grappled them with her powerful vectors. Mukanjoo was now just a straight staff with a pointed end.
"You bitch! You ruined my awesome blade! I'll pierce your eyes out now. Bando's fury escalated with an aura of orange reiatsu.
Lucy had the same nihilistic expression on her face as she let herself be open for the strike. Her forty vectors simultaneously came inwards to crush the inferior blade. She then used them all to perform a rocket punch, flying Bando a hundred metres down the street. A he tumbled along the asphalt he contemplated defeat.
Lucy glided slowly towards the fallen Shinigami.
She came forth with several vectors which stretched twenty metres to finish him off.
"Disintegrate, you black dog of Rondanini!! Look upon yourself with horror and then claw out your own throat. BAKUDO NINE: GEKI!"
Lucy and her vectors stopped in their tracks as she was paralysed by an engulfment of red light. She observed a young girl in a blue frilled dress. Her raven hair caught her eye as she recognised the girl.
"Ru..kia." She struggled to speak past the paralysis spell.
"Please stand back." Rukia requested. " I'm not even sure if I can still do this but I must try."
Kurama and Tatsuki helped up the sorry Bando as they retreated to a safe distance.
Rukia withdrew her head into her arms and stretched her arms forward performing a triangle with her fingers.
"Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! On the wall of blue flame, inscribe a twin lotus. In the abyss of conflagration, wait at the far heavens."
Lucy tried desperately to flee the oncoming attack.
"HADO SEVENTY-THREE: #SōREN SōKATSUI."
Rukia had performed the strongest destructive kido she knew. Two bursts of blue spiritual energy shot towards Lucy and created an awesome display of blue explosions as it impacted. Rukia panted as she used up so much energy for the attack. For a person who no longer was a Shinigami, this was an impressive feat.
Rukia struggled to stand as she tried to observe the destruction. As the fog cleared the could see Lucy still standing barely harmed except for a few light scratches. Her vectors took the full brunt of the attack and now could only produce twenty-eight of the forty she had before the blast.
Rukia was devastated that such a strong attack barely affected her. She collapsed as a result of the emotional and physical stress burdened upon her.
"Rukia!" Tatsuki cried. Kurama held her back to prevent entering the battle.
Lucy noticed her reduced vector quantity but didn't concern her as she advanced towards the rest of the group. She then stopped midway Then thunderously spun her vectors in a berserker fit. Toppling all nearby buildings and structures. Many citizens started fleeing from the invisible destruction. Unaware of the facing danger. Lucy turned and sliced many of the fleeing citizens.
"This...monster..." Tatsuki was outraged. Kurama insisted she stay hidden and that she would make no difference. Bando recovered from his wounds. "Hey what's going on? Why aren't I fighting?"
"Bando release your limiting seal already!"
"Gotcha." Bando got up and called out to his foe. "I hope you haven't forgotten about me?" Bando now held the handle of the weapon.
Lucy was side tracked from the slaughter and turned back to face Bando.
"Gentei Kaijo!" Bando unleashed a wave of potent reiatsu towards Lucy as he removed his restrictive seal. "Now you see, I am more powerful than you originally anticipated."
Lucy smirked. "What's the point if you have no weapon."
Bando gave an even nastier smirk. "You poor ignorant fool. You may think I'm down but I have one more trick up my sleeve."
With that he struck the ground with his damaged Mukanjoo and created a ring of fire. He sucked in a mass of air as he yelled to the top of his lungs.
"BAN-KAI!!!"
