This chapter has been rewritten and now contains new information. This chapter leading up to chapter 35 have been altered so if you wish to read please go to the beginning and read from there so that you are not lost. Thank you.
United Against the Legion of Flames
Chapter 11: Captured
The Senkaimon flared with light, bathing the dark streets below the terrace the gate was mounted upon. Around it three rings of Shinigami poured their energy fourth to maintain the gate and allow return passage, their faces concealed but their continual chanting filled the promenade.
Stepping through the light appeared several figures, leading them were the Captains. They stepped to the side and soon their Lieutenants followed along with a small detachment of unseated officers. Carrying on stretchers were the unconscious bodies of the anomalies they had defeated, each one being carted down the terrace and away.
"Take them all to the Tower of Penance, place them under restrains and ensure they do not regain conscious." Sui-Feng ordered, and was received by a chorus of affirmatives.
"Isane, go with them and check for any wounds, it would be wise to ensure they do not expire within their cages." Unohana said.
"Hai." Isane said, quickly jogging off towards the retreating Shinigami, leaving the Captains and remaining Lieutenants on the stand.
Kyoraku took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair, giving the back of his head a scratch just for the sake of it, he turned to the rest and looked at them with some solemnity. He did not like how this had turned out; it was a screw up in his opinion.
"We need to report to the Captain Commander now, we got to tell him what happened." Kyoraku said.
"That can wait until tomorrow, the next Captain meeting is being held then." Sui-Feng said. "For now I want to see about getting one of them questioned. Which one was the leader?"
"I think maybe we should hold off on interrogations for now, we may need to reconsider what information we have." Ukitake said, if what he had been told was true than they couldn't risk causing more harm to the prisoners.
Kyoraku agreed, things have changed, drastically. He looked to his Lieutenant who was speaking with a member of the Twelfth Division. She saw her hand over the medallion and also the cross, along with the gear these anomalies had used, and he would see about taking a look when he had the chance.
"I would like to know what you mean." Sui-Feng asked, although her voice was levelled, and likely waiting to tip in any direction based on the reply.
"Can you honestly tell me that the man you fought did not once try to speak with you?" Kyoraku asked, feigning boredom as he looked at her.
"He did, and it was pointless, he spoke of coming to warn us, but he gave nothing other than wasted air." Sui-Feng said.
"Not from where I am standing, if what he said was anything similar to what me and Ukitake got, than we need to alert the Captain-Commander immediately." Kyoraku countered quickly. "Especially with the fact that there was an Arrancar with Quincy abilities and in the vicinity of the attack."
Before they could even begin to delve into the issue they were approached, a messenger appeared before them kneeling. He face covered by a veil and revealing only his mouth.
"Captains, you are called to the First Division, a meeting is taking place." The Messenger stated.
"What's going on?" Ukitake asked, stepping forward.
"There was an attack; I have been instructed to send you to the First Division as soon as you return." The man replied, noticing some of the surprise that lit up on the Captain's faces. "Also, all Lieutenants are to report to their Divisions and start drilling operations, we will be patrolling the Seireitei."
The Captain's turned to one another, their expressions creased with concern and some with grim understanding. Kyoraku and Ukitake looked at one another; something defiantly did not sit right with them. For a moment the thought of what had been told to them in the world of the living came rushing back.
'They did say there would be an attack,'
"Nanoe, get to the Division, get everyone up and ready." Kyoraku said. "Get all the Officers up and ready to begin patrols; I'll be back in an hour."
"Hai." Nanoe replied, disappearing from sight and soon the rest of the Lieutenants followed her example and dispersed.
Without another word being said they all moved for the First Division, they all knew that an attack while they were gone was suspicious. Worse yet, they had only a few minutes prior been warned of an attack that threatened the Gotei, and now they had been struck. Things were not adding up, so many things were starting to appear that they did not believe it could be good.
Things were not looking pretty grim for them.
Yamamoto sat heavily on his seat, leaning on his staff and thinking grimly of the situation that had unfolded. His mind replaying the scene in his head and the message he had been delivered. Every time he relieved that memory the pain he felt in his heart grew, for the message that was given was not just in words.
"We are at war." Yamamoto said to himself, remembering the very moment it had been delivered to him, mere hours ago.
Two hours ago.
"The Captains departed to the world of the living ten minutes ago, Sou-Taicho, we have been given reports they have engaged the anomalies." His Lieutenant Chojiro Sasakibe stated, standing before the Captain's desk.
Yamamoto sat rigidly on his seat, showing even when seated he gave off a commanding and towering presence. His grim features were firmly set and showed that he wished to know of the report that he was being given.
"Good, monitor their progress and be sure to have the other captains on stand-by, afterwards you may return to you previous duties." Yamamoto ordered, much was happening now and he could not allow for a simple capture of these anomalies go wrong while the stability of the Soul Society is at risk.
"Hai, I will return to my post at your leave." Sasakibe bowed and left, he had to organise the men at Gate Kokuryou, as well as ensure his captains orders are carried out by the Twelfth Division.
Genryusai Yamamoto watched as the door closed to his officer, and for the next few minutes he remained rigid and composed. But as soon as his lieutenant's footsteps were no longer heard he slouched forward, feeling the need for such poised and show of strength no longer required. Letting his frail demeanour return, he allowed his body to rest. As much as he tried to maintain the desired appearance of the still strong and stoic commander he was, these following days have been a drain on him.
His mind continued to play over the last few days and the events that had transpired in that time. So many little details that jumped out to him, reminding him of times so long ago that he thought them almost forgotten. Times where he was younger, times when there was a crisis within the Soul Society and the World of the Living. It was just like those days now, the days when hollows were being eradicated, when the balance was being threatened. He fought to protect them that day, and now it would appear he would be doing the same now.
'But this is not the same as that day, it cannot be the same,'
Those days had long past and were no longer of importance, what happened all that time ago is of no consequence. The Quincy threat that he was concerned over had passed and there was no need for him to worry. When this began he had feared that it was them, led by him, but luckily it was not the case.
The balance had still shifted but the enemy is not the ones he had expected it to be. Some strange new forces at work, doing almost the same thing as the Quincy had done. Destroying Souls, hundreds of thousands had been lost and the balance was beginning to shift considerably. He did not know what he would find when he found them, but he would make sure that they were called to account for this.
"I had expected greater defences; instead I stand before the lord of these Gods without a single peon to halt me. I am almost disappointed."
Barely opening his eyes Yamamoto looked over his large office to see a single man standing in the centre of his chambers. Black and purple rag clothing, his face obscured by a veil, and he was carrying a strange staff that resembles a candle stick. Beneath him seemed to be a strange aura of purple energy that seeped into the boards.
"I would think that entering here would be hard, after all you are their leader, what if I was an assassin?" The hooded man asked.
"There is no need to worry over such things." Yamamoto said, rising from his seat and walking around his table and staring at the man before him. "There is no need for guards; I am the only one here, there is no better security than that."
The man was silent for a moment, before he bowed his head in contemplation.
"I see… that is true, you are a Demi-God in power, but maybe even greater than that." The cloaked man said. "It would be near impossible for me to kill you if I tried, your powers far outshine mine, and nothing short of another demi-god could challenge you."
"You speak to me strangely, you speak of gods and others, but in the last thousand years none have called me as such, nor has there been one who can challenge me." Yamamoto replied. "Who are you?"
"My apologies, I did come as an envoy, so I may as well as introduce myself and a friend of mine." He said, turning and grasping at the air, tearing at some sort of invisible veil and tearing it aside.
Yamamoto saw a man kneeling on the ground, his cloths that of a Shinigami. He appeared to be gagged and wounded; as soon as his eyes set on the Captain-Commander he tried to scream something. But the bindings prevented him from doing such.
"My name is Xrach Fadeligther, and this is Souta Ryomaru." Xrach stated,
"I know of him, he was missing as of two nights ago, sent to find a group of anomalies in Tokyo, and I to assume you are a member of their party?" Yamamoto inquired.
"I am." Xrach said. "Also this is not a prisoners exchange or the like; this is me making an example."
The Warlock raised his hand and aiming at the Shinigami's chest, before releasing a beam of condensed fire. Souta's eyes widened in shock as his torso was pierced through to his back and his heart was incinerated. Ryumaru lurched back; a hole burnt through his body had ensured that he had died instantly.
Yamamoto looked at the dead Seated Officer, before he narrowed his eyes at the killer.
"You not only cause imbalance in the souls of the Present World, but murder my soldiers without care, have you the wish to die?" Yamamoto asked, glaring at the Fel-Enchanter.
"The Imbalance was simply to lure you to a specific site, took you long enough." Xrach said. "We needed to find a means in which to enter the Seireitei, and we found it quite easily. You would not believe how many holes you have in that pathetic net you have over this city."
"If you do not state your reason for being here, I will kill you and move on." Yamamoto said, taking a single step forward and dissolving the staff and freeing his Zanpakuto from its seal.
"Alright, here it is, I serve the Seventh Fleet of the Army of the Light, we are declaring war on the Gotei." Xrach replied, casually walking over to the window and looking over the starry sky. "We intend to reduce this place to rubble, and you all with it."
"What makes you think you are a threat to us?" Yamamoto dismissed his declaration; he was of no danger to him, or any of his elite.
"Threat? I will leave that for your Captains to decide when and if they all return." Xrach replied, before he took three steps to the right. "But to prove a point of our strength, you really should have been paying attention to the Eastern Gate."
The doors of the office smashed open, the wood splintering as it collapsed to the ground and slip along the ground and then out the large opening on the opposite side of the office. Yamamoto turned to see a man stepping forward, covering gold and silver armor, his body drenched in fresh blood. In his hands he held sword and in the other he carried with him the body of a bloody and beaten Shinigami.
"Sasakibe!" Yamamoto murmured, the body of his lieutenant in the vile grasp, the remains of his Zanpakuto held within his death grip.
"Let his death and slow passing be the message, it will symbolise how you will fade along with the rest of your kind." The cloaked man said, speaking scornfully towards the venerable captain who still kept his eyes focused on his trusted subordinate's body. "He fought hard and with such conviction, only to fall to the end of our lance, and that is how you shall fall as will the rest of the Seireitei and all who stand within it."
Yamamoto turned his gaze upon the man, eyes still wide in surprise at the death he had witnessed and the brutal means it was delivered. How could this be? How did this man enter his office, murder his lieutenant without issue and then deliver him here? Where there others in the city?
"Soon we will invade the Seireitei and annihilate the entirety of the Soul Society, destroy the Gotei 13, and then move onto reshaping the entire world from our dominion here." Xrach said, sweeping his hand wide and releasing a burst of purple fire. "Your time as gods is over; we will reshape the world in our image and make it a paradise, as you should have done a long time ago."
The armored man gave the body a toss and instantly Yamamoto moved to catch him, grabbing the blood body of Sasakibe and bringing him gently to the ground. He raised his hand to his mouth and felt the briefest of exhales from his mouth, he was still breathing. The body of the mortally wounded Sasakibe was caught by his Captain, who cradled the man delicately.
Yamamoto looked down at Sasakibe, gently lowering him to the ground, finding his entire torso had been perforated. Blood continued to seep from the wound at an alarming rate, and while the heart had been pierce and destroyed, breath still escaped his lips. Yamamoto's eyes turned to the man who had just declared war on his Gotei, and the ones who were responsible for the state of his second in command.
"Those eyes ask me 'Who are you?'" The cloaked man said, and the Sou-Taicho could actually see the smirk pulling at the man's lips as he asked the next question. "That is of no importance, you will not live long enough to see our ascension."
Beneath the cloaked Warlock his very shadow seemed to grow in size, yet the light outside was not bright enough to cast them. Soon the very darkness of his shadow rose up and enveloped him, his body slowly disappearing into the darkness.
"Farewell."
"Stop!" Yamamoto roared, slashing his Zanpakuto towards the retreating Warlock, not willing to let him escape after this slight.
But it was all for naught, as his raging flames dispersed against the open bay of his office, his attack had only charred the wooden floor and the balcony to his office rather than the intruder. As he tried to sense for him he found that it was impossible, he could sense nothing from the man, nothing at all. He had escaped the Seireitei; it would mean that they were not hindered by the Shakonmaku. There were few things that would allow that.
"Yamamoto-sama…"
Turning quickly the Sou-Taicho found his wounded lieutenant trying to push himself up, failing as his life blood seeped from his wound freely. Yamamoto's eyes widened at the bloody and dying form of his lieutenant.
"The gate… they didn't… come through…"
Yamamoto moved forward as Sasakibe collapsed, his eyes glassing over and his face growing deathly pale, the last of his life all but fading from him. Without wasting a moment he departed from his office, carrying his trusted officer in his arm to the Fourth Division to get him the treatment he needed to survive.
But he did not survive.
Yamamoto leaned heavily on his staff; the images in his mind filled his heart with pain. The memory was still fresh, and the grief he felt at this moment was palpable. For so long Sasakibe had been with him, none have served under his command in the last thousand years. He was his first and only lieutenant, and now he was gone.
A glare worked its way into Yamamoto's eyes as he thought of those who had done this, these people of the Army of the Light. They claimed they intended to destroy the Seireitei, the Gotei, he would not allow that, and he would ensure they all paid for what they have done. He would mobilize the entirety of the Gotei to fight this threat, make them pay for their slights against him and the Guard.
He would find their leader, and kill him for what he had done in the World of the Living and within the sanctity of the Seireitei; he would ensure every slight was paid for.
His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of the Captains; they had finally arrived after returning from the Present World. He waited for them to enter and take their respective positions, and then he would make them prepared for this war. He did not know much of this enemy, but they had made a move against them and shown their strength. Not again would he allow their people to die because he did not believe they were simple humans.
As they filed in he took note of their state of being, finding some had sustained some wounds and injuries. Bloody and beaten, it would seem their excursion to the World of the Living was not as simple as he had hoped. His temper rose at the thought. They had difficulty defeating their enemies, despite all their skill and centuries of experience they fell short. They were captains, his finest, and they struggled to defeat a few foes in the world of the living.
They had been lax and required to tune their edges, he would whip them back into shape soon enough. Even Kyoraku had been ruffled up, Unohana appeared to have her clothing damaged, that would not do at all!
"This meeting has commenced, the excursion to the World of the Living can come later, for now I want you all to listen." Yamamoto said, looking over the Mayuri. "Kurotsuchi-Taicho, explain the situation."
"Thank you, Akon, deliver your report." Mayuri said, motioning to his Third Seat to give the briefing, stepping forward the man stood before all twelve Captains and relayed what had transpired nary two hours ago.
"Alright, I will explain the current situation briefly." Akon said. "Please hold any questions, and try to understand this right away."
"One hour and forty nine minutes ago, an unknown individual broke into the room of the First Division, he retreated one hour and forty four minutes ago." Akon said, taking only a short breath to speak again. "This man identified himself as Xrach Fadeligther and a member of the Seventh Fleet of the Army of the Light. We believe he is one of the anomalies that we detected recently, and also the ones you were sent to collect."
There was some surprise in the eyes of the Captains; especially those who had just been down to the surface. While they were away their headquarter and capital had been invaded. Sui-Feng seethed at the thought, she had been led on by that damn Monk, and now they have attacked their home. She would ensure that bastard is tortured for this; every scrap of information in his head would be plucked out by her personally.
'All that preaching, and to think I had doubts,' Sui-Feng growled to herself.
"At the same time, there was another mysterious intruder close to gate Kokuryou, this gate was manned by one hundred and fifty Shinigami from the First Division at the time. In a one hundred and eighty two second battle one hundred and six members of the division were killed, along with Gatekeeper Danzomaru." Akon stated factually.
Again surprise lit up on the Captain's faces, three minute and one hundred dead Shinigami. First Division Shinigami is the best and most highly trained among the unseated and seated officers. Usually one member was easily capable of filling the spot of a tenth to twentieth Seated position without complaint or issue.
The fact so many had been killed could only mean the attacker was powerful, potentially Captain-grade in strength. It was a daunting possibility, if these guys had soldiers that could match Captains that made them a much greater threat. What they fought in the World of the Living could simply be standard troops, if that was the case they had to be more prepared.
"Seven Seated officers were killed in the engagement, and Lieutenant Sasakibe suffered deathly wounded on site and then was somehow carried to the Division room." Akon further reported, pausing briefly and letting out an uncomfortable cough. "I will not reveal the method of his wounding, but he did not survive, he expired before medical attention could be brought to bear."
Several eyes flickered to the Captain Commander, his entire face hidden beneath a brooding shadow. When they had entered they had felt his flaring reiatsu, none at first could determine what it meant, but now that they had context they could understand his anger. He was stricken by the loss of his subordinate, a man that Yamamoto had entrusted for longer than even his longest standing Captains.
"We do not know how the intruders entered or left. There were no signs that the Shakonmaku surrounding the Seireitei was being affected by their arrival or departure." Akon said. "We believe that they used a transportation mean that the Shakonmaku cannot block, we have yet to find any evidence of the method they used. Although based on some information we believe they can actually access a dimensional pocket that exists outside of our influence and control, we are still trying to determine the validity of this."
They had just suffered massive casualties to a single Division, their most powerful, and also the loss of one of their Lieutenants. The fact that it had been done by one enemy, it was shocking, but the infiltration of the Seireitei was something that had not been done in centuries. That was most true when it involved bypassing the Shakonmaku without it being triggered.
That left some wondering if they can invade with larger numbers, an entire army attacking the Seireitei within a single moment. They were completely defenceless without knowing how they entered and had only guess work on how they did it.
"Based on current information we could collect these anomalies refer themselves as the Seventh Fleet, and are part of the Army of the Light, we have no previous record or information on them." Akon said. "Based on the scans we could find we have determined a lingering energy signature within the body of Souta Ryumaru, who had been executed on arrival by the intruder, that these energy signatures match the ones of the anomalies."
Several faces looked troubled by the new, others angry about the revelations. But some held scowls of thought, they did not find this to be right, something felt wrong about it all. Kyoraku and Ukitake looked at one another, and Toshiro even turned to them, they had to talk about this.
"With that I conclude my report." Akon finished.
"Thank you Akon, you may step back now." Mayuri said, moving forward to address the Captains personally as his third seat took his position in the corner of the room. "As you all know their incursion onto the Seireitei is of great alarm, but not to the level as we may realize. Their sudden appearance can be linked to the massive hollow disappearances in the World of the Living; while I had my doubts at first these anomalies were responsible. I cannot doubt that they seem to fit the bill."
None could deny that, this energy signature was all but unique to one force; there was no denying that they were responsible. If they had attacked the Seireitei and left their fingerprint it would be too easy to say it was them, there was no denying it.
"These anomalies are still a major concern, their abilities are unknown and based on what we can extrapolate there is no telling what other surprises…" Mayuri continued, before he was interrupted from his speech.
"Captain Kurotsuchi." Yamamoto stated, his voice thick and growling. "Enough information has been exchanged at this time, now; I only want one more thing from you. Where are they hiding?"
Mayuri looked into the eyes of the Commander; he had seen that same stare several times over the last few days. When this incident first came to light he saw a glimmer of anger in them, but this was different from them. This rage was focused and direct, there was a vengeful shine in his orbs that reflected his burning fury to the core of his being.
Anyone who looked at him could see that he wanted only one thing out of this; he wanted revenge for this attack. No, he wanted to one responsively, he wanted the man who was leading this war. So he could kill him personally.
"We do not know presently." Mayuri replied, breaking eye contact with the man.
"I see, then the chance of retaliation is not possible… then we shall wait for them, all Captains are to prepare for war!" The Sou-Taicho ordered, slamming his cane into the ground and rising from his seat. "They have told us they intend to attack, and if they do I will be ready before then, these cowards strike from the shadows and their words are not to be trusted, prepare your Divisions quickly, we will not let them have the first move again."
"Sir, what of the Prisoners?" Sui-Feng inquired.
"Chain them up, and interrogate them, I want what they know, everything!" Yamamoto barked, he continued to stroll forward, his steps heavy and filled with hostility. "We are heading to battle, and I want you all ready for it, and not a single speck of blood that is yours is to be shed! Is that clear!"
"Hai." They replied in Unison, the Captain-Commander slammed his staff into the ground to finish the meeting as he walked out.
The room slowly began to file out with him, moving at their own pace, yet two remained behind for a few minutes. Waiting for the others to depart, ensuring that none could hear them, they turned to one another and shared a grim frown.
"This sound wrong to you?" Kyoraku asked, taking off his hat and tossing it aside, enough had happened today and he was not in the mood for his own little habits.
"It does, this goes against everything we learned in the World of the Living, and it doesn't make much sense." Ukitake replied, crossing his arm.
"Yeah, the fact that these guys came to us to speak and warn up that there was an attack coming, yet send one of their guys to basically declare war." Kyoraku replied, he spoke quite a bit with Carmila and had gotten her character down pretty well.
He could tell she was a hardworking and virtuous woman who took her duty with grave seriousness, as well as her chastity. But it was the fact she was so adamant on warning them on a potential conflict that made this seem wrong, in fact it made little sense at all. They send in seven people to fight them? People that likely never had a chance against a Captain. That was foolish to send down your people like that.
In fact they even stated that they were coming down at risk because they had to ensure that the Shinigami were made aware despite any hostilities. The fact they were aware of the hostilities and concerned that the Shinigami attacked them first, something they may have done, and still wanted a ceasefire seemed completely out of character.
They should have sent whoever killed those one hundred First Division soldiers, but instead they sent a group of people that can talk better than they swing their swords. It just didn't fit, lure them out seemed like a good idea, but the fact that they wanted to allay any fears and problems simply did not seem right.
"They did warn us of the Quincy, could they be behind this?" Ukitake asked, evidence at first did point towards them; in fact it still does with what was recovered today.
"That is what I am thinking, but there lays the problem, do we believe their word on the Quincy, which is sketchy because they seem to know less than we do. Or the evidence that says they attacked and killed the Shinigami at the Eastern Gate and also were responsible for the attack here." Kyoraku asked.
That was the dilemma; they wanted to believe what was told to them in the World of the Living and stop a potential bloodbath. But it would seem that one was coming their way anyway, yet who was going to be their opponent was the issue right now.
"I think both of you should come with me." Toshiro said, peaking around the doorframe and looking at the two Captains.
Both looked at the shorter Shinigami and gave him a calculating look, it was obvious he wasn't questioning them, but seemed to be interested in their conversation. The fact he remained behind the listen it proved that and only stepping in now showed his interest.
"What's up?" Kyoraku inquired, feigning innocence.
"I have something you may want to see." Toshiro said, turning and disappearing, and soon he was followed by two intrigued Captains.
Within a few minutes they had arrived at the Tenth, it was abuzz with activity and people running around like headless chickens. It would seem that Rangiku was causing an uproar getting everyone ready, in fact they could hear her shouting to get everyone up and in the courtyard.
They moved past them all and into Toshiro's office, both the senior Captains took a seat on his lounges, facing one another yet their heads turned to the diminutive comrade. He closed the door to his office before he pulled out a file from his shirt, revealing a white folder.
"I would have thought you two would have been interested in this." Toshiro said.
"What is it?" Kyoraku inquired, looking at the file as it was tossed onto the glass table between the two Captains.
"Take a look and find out." Toshiro said, moving towards his desk and casually leaning against it, he cross his arms and waited for them to take a look.
Kyoraku and Ukitake looked at one another before the former opened the file and began scanning through its contents. It seemed to be an information packet, and oddly enough it seemed to have come from the Seventh Fleet. Containing all the basic information he had been made privy to by Carmila, as he read though he found more information present than from her personal account.
There was a lot more detail in it, he handed it over to Ukitake as he finished reading a section. The script was in translated Japanese, very kind of them, and gave a good amount of detail on the incident two nights ago and also the vision that showed the fight between the Gotei and the Quincy.
"See, we have a problem." Toshiro said, noticing their expressions as they continued moving through the data.
"Yeah, this is a lot of detail, stuff that you do not give to a group that you go to war with." Kyoraku replied, everything he had been told by the paladin was here, along with more.
The vision was given a great amount of detail, from descriptions of the site along with images personally painted by the viewer of the vision. It gave a lot of detail on the Seireitei, in fact if his memory was as good as it was, he could tell that this was a south western view of the Seireitei from Sokyoku Hill.
He found several drawings that caught his interest, the symbol on a large white tower in the middle of the Seireitei, a tower that should not be there. Another drawing was of soldiers bearing the same five pointed cross, wearing all white and fighting against Shinigami in the streets. Along with an individual on the tower, he saw nothing but black but someone was standing on it.
"They gave you this?" Ukitake asked.
"Yes, he attempted to give it to me, but when I made to capture him he still tried to pass it to me, he said he was ordered to ensure he received it for my superiors." Toshiro said. "They wanted us to have this information regardless of hostility."
The three remained silent for a moment, before the two senior Captains continued to pillage through the information. Finding details all throughout the file, pertaining to the vision and also the Seventh Fleets involvements with the events regarding the Shinigami.
"I have their report on the incident two nights ago, a field report and also the autopsy on their peoples." Kyoraku said, looking through it quickly. "Says they all suffered puncture wounds and slashes, no metal shaving were found that showed they were of solid weapons. But a lingering energy source was present as well."
"Just like ours." Ukitake said.
"In the report it says that two were missing, one being the team's leader Xrach Fadeligther, along with a soldier named Paladin named Orrick Dawnguard." Kyoraku said.
"He was the one who delivered the declaration of war." Ukitake stated.
"What are the odds the other one was the guy that killed all those Shinigami at the Eastern Gate?" Kyoraku asked rhetorically. "This is looking to be a master fabrication, or..."
"Or we are being misled as to who the real enemy is." Ukitake stated.
"Souta Ryumaru was killed by this Xrach character, and if he was reported missing several days ago it would mean that the one who killed Ryumaru may not actually be him." Toshiro said. "It is possible that we are being lead on."
"Yeah, remember what Orihime said, apparently that Arrancar was there to stop negotiations from going down. Let's say he succeeded and likely someone came here to do the same on our end." Kyoraku interjected.
"Then it is possible that the incident two nights ago is false." Toshiro said, it is possible that the incident was to capture someone and bring them back to make an example in front of the Captain-Commander, but why lie about it in the report and give it to them if they were going to do it.
"Not likely, mainly because it doesn't make sense." Kyoraku said. "If these guys wanted to do something they wouldn't have wasted the effort. They made a damn detailed report and wanted us to believe them one hundred percent they were innocent and the good guys. Then they send someone to attack the Seireitei, by men they claim are missing, and now all that hard work is useless and we are back to hating one another."
It did seem to be a bit off putting, and he was making sense, the people they faced were very adamant of ensuring their innocence in the slaughter. Even going so far to risk their lives to get them information and speak rather than fight, claiming of a third party and that they were likely being set up to fight one another.
"Remember what happened in the World of the Living?" Kyoraku asked Ukitake.
"I do, the Arrancar, but with Quincy powers." Ukitake replied, he had been able to speak with Orihime Inoue about the discovery, it had slipped most of the Captain's minds, some of them concerned that maybe they had potentially made a mistake.
"Yeah, and now we get this, attention drifts back to the Anomalies, get warned about Quincy and then we get an Arrancar with Quincy powers show up." Kyoraku said, he could tell for certain things were not adding up, too many unsolved variables for his liking. "Next we get info that they are attacking us and have declared war. Too coincidental, someone is trying to take the heat off them and onto the Seventh Fleet."
"Then you see the problem, we need to report this, the Captain-Commander needs to be alerted that it is the Quincy." Toshiro said. "We may have been duped into fighting a force we shouldn't have."
"I have no doubt of that we have been duped, but we need to figure out who is who right now." Kyoraku said, rising from his seat and rubbing the back of his neck.
"What do you suggest?" Toshiro asked.
"Find the other Captains, tell them to meet me in the Sixth, we need to talk about what happened down there." Kyoraku said. "Details, we need everything we can, and we also need to go to the Captain-Commander and get him to see this."
"They may not be as enlightened as us, Sui-Feng-Taicho and Byakuya-Taicho did express some aggressiveness concerning their opponents. They both called her a Soulless abomination if I remember correctly." Toshiro replied, he did not expect them to listen; they both seemed quite angry and irritable when they re-joined them. In fact they were the only two that did not express any doubts about what they had done, instead it was reinforced. "Also Unohana-Taicho seems less than talkative about her opponent; I think we are on our own as it."
Kyoraku grimaced at the development, they had little support from the other Captains, but still he would need to try. He couldn't believe the luck they were having right now, the entire spiritual realm was in an uproar and the damn Gotei was on the warpath.
But he guessed that is what was wanted, after all if they wanted the Gotei 13 and this Seventh Fleet to fight one another than it was likely going to happen. The Captain-Commander wanted blood, and he wasn't going to calm down until he got it, and that was focused on a single target. Things were looking real bleak right about now.
Silbern
Ebern dragged himself through the white stone halls of the Quincy fortress; he passed many Soldat on his way, giving him dirty looks when they thought he was not looking. Judging him as weak more than likely, he was far from it; he was a member of the Vanguard, the elite of the Quincy race. He was given this privilege by his Majesty.
He along with many others would soon be the leading force that would assault the Seireitei and destroy it, defeating the vile Shinigami that had tortured their race for so long. They had no right to judge him for his failure; he fought and survived against Ichigo Kurosaki, one of the Special War Potentials. The second to be exact, a fear few save a Sternritter could match, let alone survive.
As he walked through the bowls of the fortress he felt concern, he had succeeded in his primary mission. The Seventh Fleet and the Gotei would be at war with one another soon, and they would be at each others throats. But he had failed in a secondary objective; he had failed to remove a Special War Potential and also the bonus of stealing Ichigo Kurosaki's Bankai.
"He will not be pleased." Ebern said aloud.
He walked into the central chamber finding it completely devoid of any decorations and furnishings. Aside from the single throne that sat upon a raised platform in the center of the room, upon it sat a cloak figure who remained motionless as he observed the new arrival. He knelled before the throne and waited for his lord to speak.
"Ebern, welcome back, I trust the mission was successful?" His Majesty inquired, looking at the Arrancar.
"Yes your Majesty, I was able to prevent any cooperation between the two forces from taking place, they will be fighting one another soon." Ebern responded respectfully.
"But you came back wounded, and missing a limb, I thought I ordered you to not be caught." His Majesty said.
"My apologies, I sought to remove a Special War Potential, Orihime Inoue was present and she was conversing with the Seer." Ebern said. "I saw a chance to remove both at the same time."
"I do recall giving precise instructions, had you not interfered things would have gone about differently." Yhwach said. "What of your hand? Did the Seer take it? Or did that little human girl actually wound you."
Ebern was a little worried now, his Lord was not pleased with the result.
"It was Ichigo Kurosaki, he took my hand." Ebern said, and was met with silence for a while, and his dread continued to grow as the seconds passed by and his lord did not respond.
Soon the sound of multiple footsteps could be heard behind him, turning Ebern caught site of one of the prisoners. Along with a man in armor, he was certain he had seen him in Herr's laboratory on the slab dead. But now he was walking around and appeared to have been bloodied.
"How well did the mission go Xrach?" Yhwach inquired. "No, Loyd Lloyd."
On cue the image of Xrach began to fade, revealing not the Warlock but a Sternritter garbed in his traditional clothing and with his hands clasped behind him back. He smiled slightly and stood at attention several meters away from his Majesty, giving a short bow before speaking.
"Very well, the Shinigami was executed as instructed along with the Lieutenant, the revived Paladin did exceptionally well against the First Division soldiers and Chijiro Sasikibe." Loyd informed. "Although, his Bankai was not unleashed, I am sorry sir."
"No matter." Yhwach stated, that development was of no importance. "You have done well, now that we have reaffirmed the hostilities between the two parties all that remains is to ensure that they collide."
Yhwach was pleased with these developments, he had to ensure that all was done correctly otherwise this little scheme would fall apart and then he would be forced to take much more drastic action. It would be a minor inconvenience but it would still cause issue as he could still use the conflict between the Fleet and Gotei.
"Take Orrick back to Herr Faust, he would like his test subject back." Yhwach said, receiving another bow from the Sternritter, before he addressed the Arrancar that thought himself a Quincy. "Ebern."
"Yes sir!" Ebern said.
"I cannot give you praise or punish you for doing your duty, you did as instructed and put it upon yourself to do more." Yhwach said, looking at him seriously. "Because of that desire to do more you exposed yourself and nearly risk my plan and revealed our existence. Had it not been for Raven disrupting the Seventh Fleets ability to call for support or escape, we may have risked them not following the path I have set."
"I did only what I thought was best for the Wandenreich." Ebern said.
"I know, and be glad that your actions have led to furthering its ultimate goal." Yhwach said.
For a moment Ebern thought he was going to be cleared of his over-zealousness, he raised his head to thank his Majesty. But he never had the chance; his head parted his shoulder, the executioner standing behind him.
"Is it not prudent we keep them alive?" Jugrum inquired, stepping forward and out of the Shadows and looked at the deceased Arrancar, and then to his executioner.
Both men glared at one another for a moment, nothing could be seen on the imperceptible mask of the Sternritter Grandmaster, and nothing could be read beneath the half mask of the man who had dealt the killing blow.
"What do you mean?" Yhwach asked, rising from his throne, manipulating the spiritual particles within it and disassembling the seat before he willed it to form a new construction.
"You wanted the Arrancar as conscripted soldiers because they do not require training, and through the re-education you have allowed them to believe they are Quincy. Would it not be prudent not to waste them?" Jugrum asked, stepping forward to follow after his Majesty, but was blocked off from the forming stairs by the executioner.
"They are of no use anymore." Raven said, looking down at the Grandmaster with a sneer. "Their purpose has none within the Wandenreich any more, the Vanguard has been replaced."
"My Master of Shadows is correct, the Arrancar have no major purpose anymore, not with the Seventh Fleet here." Yhwach said, forming a set of stairs that led up to a section above the chamber. "They are now redundant and almost without use."
"Shall we have them executed then?" Raven inquired, turning to address his lord and master.
"No, they can still be used, but not as we first intended." Yhwach replied, not looking back as he entered the upper chamber. "No need to sacrificial pawns to send in the first wave, but attack dogs to run down the weakened enemies when the dust begins to settle."
Yhwach walked into a large room, two cages lined the walls while at the far end of the room lead to another chamber where a single prisoner was placed, pinned to the ground by chains and spikes. He moved forward and looked down at her. She had been tended to by one of his Sternritter, Marie Mercery had cleaned her up and was busy removing the blood and sweat from the woman.
"Your Majesty." Mary said, rising and bowing to him, but he did not acknowledge her fealty.
"I conquered her race to prove a point, that the feared Arrancar were no match for the might of the Wandenreich. I had intended to use them as my Vanguard to attack the Gotei in the beginning if things did not play out as I intended."
Then he smirked and moved back towards the cages, and looking to a single prisoner, glancing inside the cage and making eye contact with the man.
"But when I saw that you had arrived, I knew that I could do so much more damage compared to using these cretins." Yhwach said, turning and moving for the cage and never letting his eyes leave that of the prisoners. "You have the skills and abilities needed to inflict heavy casualties against the Gotei, I even would say the potential to kill several of their Captains."
All the prisoners within, the Arrancar that averted their eyes in the need for self-preservation, only one kept his head high and returned his stare with one of his own. His slicked back hair had become rough over the last two days and the signs of dehydration seemed to be taking a toll on him. But he continued to glare, and Yhwach was gladdened, that same fire existed in all those others.
"And you have been instrumental in that task, Xrach Fadeligther." Yhwach said, smirking at the chained Warlock.
"You think that the Seventh will attack, they won't, they know about you and your goal, the Fleet will never attack the Shinigami." The Warlock replied.
"But they will, I have seen to it, the kidnapping of their people will see to it that they enter the Soul Society to rescue them." Yhwach replied, his smirk never fading. "And when they do, the Gotei will attack with much gusto."
Xrach growled under his breath, he knew that Souta had been sent off to die; he had seen it happen when Jugrum had brought him. The man was never going to let out alive; he wasn't brought as a prisoner, but as a sacrificial lamb that would be used to vindicate the Gotei's hatred for the Seventh.
"You can't possible believe that the Gotei will just attack them, my Commander would never engage in hostilities with the Shinigami under any circumstance. Even if it is to rescue his people." Xrach growled, the lives of thousands of his people were not worth a handful, he would never risk so many men to rescue so few.
"But what about the life of one girl? One that is so valuable that he would risk everything to get her back, all because of some visions of the future?" Yhwach asked and smirked as he saw the Warlock's eyes widen. "I know she is precious, her sight is powerful and she will not be sacrificed, because her eyes see beyond just this world. But many others and the values they hold, would he risk several thousand men, to save billions?"
Xrach growled audibly, he knew exactly who he was talking about, Draga Wolfheart. Mairne apprentice was of great importance to the Fleet, in fact she was damn near invaluable. She was not some ordinary Shaman, but a Spirit Walker, able to channel the spirits of hundreds of ancestral spirits and call for their knowledge and power.
But it was her visions that were of importance, especially those pertaining to the Burning Legion. He was privy to this knowledge where even Danforth was not, and the fact that she had seen the downfall of the Legion lord was monumental. Her life was invaluable and could not be measured simply because of the lives she could save.
The fact she has been captured meant that Mairne would go to any lengths to rescue her, because she held the knowledge and sight that could help them end the Great War.
A war that was worth more than just a single world, the entirety of the Seventh Fleet, worth more than a few billion lives. Mairne would come for her in force, he would come to save her simply because her visions could aid in stopping the Great Burning Shadow. There would be no other reason than that to go to war with the Gotei if they proved to be an enemy.
The man had this in the bag.
"I see you understand." Yhwach replied. "They will fight, they will destroy one another, even if they do stop fighting they still will have weakened each other so horrendously that they will not be able to stand before the second wave. I will bury both of them beneath a hail of arrows and a rain of sword."
"You will pay for this." Xrach growled. "You damn bastard! You hear me! I will see your dead for this!"
But before he could utter another curse Yhwach had stepped within the cage, phasing the bars away and drawn his sword. Xrach did not speak or even show an ounce of fear, he had lived with fear all his life and he was over it. He knew what was coming as soon as that man stepped into the cage.
"You have served your purpose, now die for my cause." Yhwach said, stabbing his blade through Xrach's chest.
The Warlock looked down to see the hilt of the weapon pushing hard against his chest, the blade having passed right through it and his heart. With a growl he glanced up at the Quincy, his last act before darkness overtook his vision was his purple eyes glaring at his killer.
Yhwach smirked as the Warlock expired in his grasp, his soul would be most useful, all that knowledge and information would be key to this war. Regardless of which path it took he would have the upper hand in it.
"Take him to Herr Faust, he will be eager to have another corpse to work on." Yhwach ordered turning and moving off back towards the exit.
Anastacia looked to see the body of the Warlock dragged away, his wound leaving a bloody trail on the floor as he was carted off to god knows where. But despite his death she couldn't feel sad, sure she respected the guy for having balls most of the time and not feeling afraid of his captors. But that didn't change the fact he was dead now, along with their chance of escape.
She actually had hope that they would be getting out of here, escaping from this hellhole like Xrach had said they would. But instead she would be trapped here while the guy that told her as such would be rotting in some mad fucks laboratory.
"Dammit, you screwed me over Xrach…" Anastacia said. "Damn you, damn you for giving me hope…"
Yamamoto's Anger: Yamamoto is angry because of the simplest of reasons, because a dear friend and comrade were killed. But more than that it was killed by a force that reminds him of another force and enemy. The Seventh Fleet is being blames by the Gotei for the Hollow Deaths because they are the only candidates that have legitimately been sighted and appeared. But with Sasikibe's death at the hands of the Seventh Fleet he has the vindication he needs to fight them. That is why he is so adamant on fighting them, because they have made a point. They attacked his Division, killed his Luietenant and threatened the Soul Society. Three strikes and he is going to take you out.
Yhwach's Master Plan: Yhwach has been planning this for a long time. He knows about the Seventh Fleet and that they may come. Will not reveal how or why. But the man is nothing short of brilliant when it comes to planning. He did more than just disrupt an alliance but also made them enemies and facilitated the means to make them fight one another. Even if one did not want to fight the other. Yhwach is a skilled and dangerous fighter and knows when to fight and when to sit back and let others do it for him.
So in the original version the Quincy revealed themselves. Looking back on that I realised I made a mistake. I should have not done that as it defeats the purpose of the Quincy trying to get the Fleet and Gotei to fight. Yhwach would have turned them on each other and made them destroy one another for his own benefit. So instead I changed it that the Wandenreich would remain unseen and wait till both sides destroyed one another before he struck. That is classical tactics there. Letting others fit your battles for you. Yhwach wanted the Gotei to destroy itself, so this is no better punishment. Let them get destroyed because of their own foolishness.
Xrach and Souta's Death: Xrach and Souta were captured for different reasons. Souta was captured to use as a sacrificial lamb to prove that the Fleet was responsible for his capture and later execution. Xrach was captured to use as a base imprint so his powers and appearance could be replicated by Loyd Lloyd, who has power and appearance mimicry to show that Souta had been killed by someone from the Fleet. This was done to shatter the doubts the Captains may have had while fighting in the World of the Living and prevent anything from screwing up the plan Yhwach has for them to fight.
Also Xrach was killed because he had outlived his usefulness and there was no point in keeping him alive anymore. Also Yhwach knows he is planning and escape and knows that he could pull it off so he kills him to prevent that. That was their sole purpose of being kept alive, Souta to be killed before the Captain Commander to reinforce the Fleets involvement and to use Xrach as a template for Loyd Lloyd to copy him so his likeness could be used.
