CHAPTER 24: DESPERATION
"Voltaire, pierce his soul." No sooner had these words left Lillith Levesque's smooth, rosy lips than a puff of smoke burst in the air beside her, from which shot out a seemingly innumerable count of small metallic rods, all woven together like a web. Uryuu Ishida saw them coming, and attempted to leap out of the way, but to no avail as the razor-sharp web of metal caught him and pierced his midsection in several places. Ishida couldn't move; the web was strong and unmoving, and in his excruciating pain he realized that, like a fly caught in the web of a spider, his doom was at hand.
"GAH!" cried out Ishida as the pain continued to shoot through his many wounds all across his body. The bow in his hands vanished into the small five-point star bracelet on his right wrist, and as it did so Ishida opened his heavily squinted eyes just enough to see a second figure now accompanying Lillith, this figure a man, tall with deep violet skin and dark, crimson robes, his eyes orange and electric. From his fingers sprang the web of steel rods, or cords; whatever they were, Ishida was completely trapped by them, these same rods running through his body, through his organs, and causing such pain that he though he would go blind.
"I'm sure that if you had the capacity, you'd be thinking that this web is causing far more pain than it should," said Lillith somewhat lightheartedly. "If you were thinking that, you are correct. My zanpakuto Voltaire's specialty, the Filet Vengeur, infuses my own spiritual energy with his, allowing me to send reiatsu, like electricity, along its length. See? Watch, I'll send a pulse down right now." Lillith grinned mischievously, and almost immediately Ishida's pain reached a new level as he felt as though an electric shock was forced into his body, burning his muscles and forcing them to contract.
"S-stop!" he stammered, but to this Lillith made a sad sound, frowned, and shook her head.
"I cannot stop," she said remorsefully. "I have never actually been able to test this technique on a living person, and I need to gauge its effectiveness for further use. You see, where we plan on going, the Eternal Realm of the Gods, we need to be at our very best or else we will all be killed in the blink of an eye."
After several seconds the pulse of reiatsu vanished, causing Ishida to feel relief all while still being skewered by Voltaire's steel web. It was in this state that Ishida began to feel some level of lucidity, and using this state he opened his eyes and looked at the woman and zanpakuto before him.
"Y-your zanpakuto…" stammered Ishida, eliciting a curious look from Lillith. "He's o-outside your b-body…how are you…?"
"How am I sending reiatsu into his web?" interrupted Lillith. "Simple; Voltaire and I have the finest spiritual and emotional connection out of any Holy in Jizengensei's history. Our very thoughts are linked, and what I feel he feels, and vice-versa. If I want somebody dead, then he will feel the same way, and because of our unbreakable connection we are able to transmit not only feelings and emotions, but energy as well. It's like love…only not so foolish and weak."
"Love…isn't…weakness…" stammered Ishida, but as he did so he had a thought. They are linked? What if I took advantage of this?
"You humans…" grumbled Lillith. "You think you understand your feelings so well, when your minds are completely shadowed from truth. How can one expect to know themselves when in fact they are prevented from so doing?"
I have one shot at this…I'll release it all…
"But then again," continued Lillith. "I guess you have already experienced the Jizengensei life, long before my own creation…"
NOW!
Using all his control and faculties despite the overwhelming pain, Ishida opened his soul and flooded his remaining reiatsu into the steel network. Sparks of energy bounced off the intermingled webbing, arcing from line to line and racing towards Voltaire, who developed a look of shock upon his violet face as the rush of spiritual energy neared. Too quick it was, however, for him to evade, and as such the wave of power from Ishida's embattled body entered his, causing the zanpakuto to shudder from the influx and creating a large electric arc that bounced from his body to Lillith's. With a deafening zap and a bright flash the spiritual energy collided with her petite body, causing a dense cloud of dark vapor to encompass the Fallen One.
"Ugh…" grumbled Voltaire in a deep, round voice, shaking his head as if waking up from a nightmare. "What was that…" Whether out of pain or distraction, Voltaire's web vanished into the air, dispersing into millions of bright spots that faded gradually, and Ishida fell the ground.
"That was me taking advantage," replied Ishida in heavy breaths, his midsection painted crimson with effluent blood. "She shouldn't have given away her secret…surely she would have known that I am a Quincy, and can easily control my reiatsu. Had she done so, she would have won."
"Quincy, huh?" asked smooth, indifferent alto voice from the dark vapor, sending a chill down Ishida's spine that felt as though it would paralyze him. Ahead of him the cloud of vapor dispersed, showing Lillith Levesque standing in the same position as before, only a slight scorch mark on her black leather gown the sign of Ishida's attack; all else about this woman seemed completely unscathed…only know her face was angered, her cruel blue eyes gazing down at Ishida's pain-ridden, trembling body.
"But…how…?" gasped Ishida, to which Voltaire gave a short chuckle.
"I remember learning about you in school," continued Lillith. "I feel embarrassed for not realizing this earlier; after all, you have the spirit bow, the highly-controlled spiritual energy, exemplary detective abilities…but what probably should have clued me in to your true nature is your unbelievable delusional arrogance."
"What…?"
"The Quincy were supposedly destroyed because of their arrogance," stated Lillith, her voice low and uncaring. "But before their destruction, they still thought they had far greater power than they actually did. I assume that you think you literally kill hollows with that bow of yours?"
"But…" started Ishida. "But Quincy destroy the souls of hollows…"
"Ha!" laughed Lillith, though her face remained cruel throughout. "You think that humans have such incredible power? You really think you can destroy that which cannot be destroyed?! All you Quincy do is disperse the souls comprised in a hollow; they eventually reform elsewhere, and sometimes even in their same hollow form. Your bow wouldn't even break my skin; those of Jizengensei are young in our transcendent lives…but our spiritual powers far exceed even the greatest of Soul Society's captains."
"Lillith," interrupted Voltaire. "We should finish this now and help Callous; I sense great danger for him at the hands of Lucian Francis."
"That is a wise counsel," replied Lillith. "Now you, Quincy, will perish" Ishida hesitated for a moment, but at last gave a request.
"Won't you tell me your name?" asked Ishida sincerely. "At least give me that honor…"
"I am Lillith Levesque, former Commodore of the Fifth Holy Commission," she replied. "For you, I will give the complete incantation." Lillith then raised her right hand, all fingers pointed towards Ishida as he knelt upon the ground, unable to move due to the encroaching pain and darkness from Voltaire's devastating attack.
Here it comes… thought Ishida as he closed his eyes. I can't use hirenkyaku to escape…I'm sorry, everyone. Ahead, Lillith drew a breath and began to speak in low, soft, cruel tones.
"Priesthood of the Ninth Heaven, the Glorious Realm of Oliblish, Eighty-six, Steel Stalactite."
Above Ishida a flash of light shone out, and a group of sharp steel spikes appeared in the air. Without any delay these spikes shot down towards the ground and Ishida's body where the Quincy took a deep breath and awaited his death.
I'm so sorry, everyone…
--
Chad's chest heaved heavily as he stood defensively, his face bloodied and his skin bruised; even Chad's arms in their released forms were damaged and scarred. While he thus stood, a myriad of spiritual fluctuations intruded upon his mind…Ishida, Inoue, Ichigo, that Aiseki guy…
"Your friends are struggling," declared Kyeongseok Goh, the Korean-looking Fallen One, his visage and appearance completely unscathed – a far cry from Chad's current state. "Just are you are."
"They'll win, all of them," countered Chad defiantly, to which Kyeongseok, a rather sullen looking man, shook his head in the negative while closing his eyes.
"Confidence in the face of utter defeat means one of two things," said Kyeongseok. "One, that you have a secret trump card, one that you are confident will be enough to defeat even someone vastly more powerful than yourself. Two, that you are trying to console yourself, and that you indeed know your doom is at hand. We haven't been fighting for more than a few minutes, and already I can see that you are nearing your limit." Suddenly a bright flash of light appeared, and a beam of said light flew past Kyeongseok's ear, nicking off some of his black hair above his left ear. Beyond, Chad stood with his right arm, the Brazo Derecho del Gigante, extended and smoldering from the burst.
"We will win," repeated Chad once again.
"Of course there is a third possibility," continued Kyeongseok, brushing the recently clipped hair with his left hand. "You could be completely out of your mind, sincerely thinking that the fly can crush the elephant." Before he had finished speaking, however, Chad was already bearing down upon him, his fists glowing with spiritual radiation.
"GAH!" cried out Chad as he thrust his left arm, the Brazo Izquierda del Diablo, at Kyeongseok, only to have, once again, the Fallen One vanish from his sight, the momentum of his thrust carrying his fist down onto the ground in an explosion of dirt, dust, and debris.
"That is the fifteenth attempt," called out Kyeongseok's voice from behind as the dust settled. "Doesn't it grate upon your ego to repeat the same action repeatedly, yet expecting different results? Isn't that a sign of insanity?"
"I won't give up…" grumbled Chad as he immediately spun around and delivered another crushing blow – only to again be evaded with ease.
"You know, this isn't as much fun as I thought it would be," declared Kyeongseok. "I chose to fight you because you seemed to have great physical prowess…but now that I can see firsthand your abilities, I must say I am not impressed."
"But we have to win," replied Chad. "Ichigo, Ishida, Lucian…everyone is giving their best, and we have to if we want to stop the Viajante!" Kyeongseok's rather blasé façade suddenly vanished, in its place a stony, cold look as he glared at Chad through dark brown eyes.
"You actually think you can defeat the man who would be God?" asked Kyeongseok, startling Chad with such a question. "You actually think that you seven – the same that Master Ryojin has already defeated with incredible ease – can even fathom defeating him? Even with a thousand men of your strength could this not be accomplished!"
"That isn't true," countered Chad, drawing a little ire from Kyeongseok. "Lucian told us; Ryojin lost his spiritual power when he first tried to take over Jizengensei. If he is just like any other man now, then he can be beaten by a human like me." Kyeongseok was silent for a moment, instead continuing his cold glare.
"You foolish human…" grumbled the Fallen One. "There is more to power than reiatsu…and that is why you will lose to him, no matter what, no matter how many times you get back up. But more importantly is this: the path to Ryojin is blocked by us, his faithful and loyal servants."
"Then I will crush all of you and stop him!" growled Chad, his left fist now glowing brightly and catching Kyeongseok's attention.
"Tell you what," said Kyeongseok in a different, more pleasant tone. "I will let you hit me – once – for free. A gimme, a mulligan, a head start."
"W-what?" asked Chad, his words fumbling from the sudden onset of confusion. Beyond, Kyeongseok straightened his posture and stuck out his chest like an open target.
"If you kill me, then you win and I will be wrong," continued Kyeongseok. "You will then be free to challenge Ryojin, and who knows – perhaps you will 'save the world'." While Chad would normally have hesitated for fear of a trap, this time he immediately rushed towards Kyeongseok, a battle cry on his lips and his fist glowing like the sun.
I will not hold back at all… thought Chad as his target neared. He is underestimating me…I will go with my full force, and defeat him in one blow.
"That's right…" said Kyeongseok, a grin appearing on his face for the first time since they had begun battling. "Let loose, go all out…"
"La Muerte!" cried Chad, and he thrust his left fist with all his strength and force into Kyeongseok's chest, but instead of his target being sent flying, Chad's fist instantly rebounded as though Kyeongseok's body were made of super-hard, yet perfectly elastic rubber. This, coupled with the immense momentum of Chad's attack, sent himself – not his foe – flying backwards where he crashed and rolled to a stop upon the rocky ground, his already bloodied body even more battered and bruised, and his left arm clearly broken at the humerus and radius both broken from the force. In this state Chad welled up the unbelievable pain into his throat and kept from calling out in agony, and slowly stood up.
Impossible… thought Chad, the expression on his face becoming distressed. He didn't move…how did he repulse me like that?
"Something about your face tells me this isn't the first time something like this has happened," mused Kyeongseok, his body and dark leather raiment still unscathed. "Of course, not exactly the same…no one in existence has a zanpakuto quite like mine."
"Zanpakuto?" gasped Chad. "I don't see a zanpakuto anywhere…"
"Of course you don't," replied Kyeongseok with a smile. "Tomeiningen…the legendary 'invisible zanpakuto'." With these words a pair of glowing yellow eyes appeared out of thin air next to Kyeongseok, causing Chad to freak out a little inside.
"Goh-sama…" whispered a voice upon the air as the eyes then turned towards their master, who now smiled as though looking at his child.
"Are you familiar with the method of zanpakuto creation?" asked Kyeongseok to Chad, who didn't reply due his state of shock at seeing Tomeiningen's eyes. "I didn't think so. You see, the shinigami believe that their zanpakuto are born with them, but this is not the case. Instead, a zanpakuto is created by its master long before entering the Mortal World, even in Jizengensei. As part of development into a Holy, a person in the Premortal realm must create a companion out of their own spirit matter, someone who they love and cherish, someone who will compliment their powers and emotions."
"Goh-sama…" whispered the voice once again, but Kyeongseok seemed to ignore it as he continued his lecture.
"In my case, my spirit was created into curious circumstances," continued the Fallen One. "Like in the mortal world, no one is created into a perfect body. You see, I lack the ability to move my lower body, including legs."
"What?" asked Chad, dubious to these words; after all, Kyeongseok could not only move, he could move exceedingly fast, well beyond the abilities of Chad even at his heightened state.
"You heard me correctly," continued Kyeongseok. "Long ago, I was consistently rejected from the School of Holies due to being restricted to machines to move myself around. However, I created Tomeiningen on my own – an invisible, caring, protecting zanpakuto and best friend – and he has moved my legs for me all this time. It would be boastful to declare, but my efforts landed me an immediate position as Officer in the Ninth Commission."
"Goh-sama…" asked the voice of Tomeiningen for the third time, and this time Kyeongseok responded.
"Yes, Tomeiningen?" asked Kyeongseok with a soft voice.
"That boy's attack hurt…" continued Tomeiningen. "He's very strong; if that had hit you…"
"Either way, it wouldn't have affected me," interjected Kyeongseok. "You can tell, can't you? He poured his entire soul into that one attack. His spiritual power is like an fly compared to ours."
"That's not true…" started Chad, but Kyeongseok quickly interrupted.
"Lies are not becoming of a warrior," declared the Fallen One. "You know it as well as I do – your limit is reached. Again, your power is like that of a fly compared to an elephant; you cannot defeat me…"
"Why are you speaking like this?" asked Tomeiningen, startling Kyeongseok. "This is unlike you to speak so proudly…"
"Master Valhalla has given me hope, my dear zanpakuto," answered Kyeongseok. "He gave us all hope – hope of a better tomorrow, one in which our friends won't risk losing their souls to damnation. If the blood of a few is required to achieve that end, the salvation of billions, then I think it is a worthy goal to be proud of. Hope is power – and hope, through Ryojin Valhalla, is real."
"But…" stuttered Chad, but he could not finish. Logically Kyeongseok's declaration was sound; if billions might be saved, then perhaps the loss of a small few would be justified. In fact, were not the Earth and Jizengensei both preserved high above this plane? Ryojin wasn't trying to destroy the worlds…but then what was he trying do? Was it right for Chad to oppose this?
"It seems that perhaps you are understanding," observed Kyeongseok. "Gradually everyone will come to the same conclusion given enough time to think. After all, it just seems too unfair, this existence of ours. However, Jigenseisokuka has deemed you a threat, and as such you are to be terminated. Don't worry, though; your soul will be allowed to proceed further into progression in the Afterlife once Ryojin becomes God. Now then, Tomeiningen, assist me in delivering the final blow, so that we may go assist Lord Callous."
With those words, the two glowing eyes vanished, and Kyeongseok again began to move, whereupon he immediately leapt and flew at Chad with terrifying speed, his fist aimed directly at Chad's heart. For a moment time seemed to stand still; ahead of him Kyeongseok's rapid approach slowed to a crawl, and for what seemed like minutes Chad waited in patience for his doom. While doing so he noticed a large plume of dust rising from behind a hill where Ishida had gone to fight, but Chad gave little extra thought to this observation.
Ichigo…it's the end for me. Thanks for everything…but please forgive me for not being strong enough.
--
Mark Anders, also known as Aiseki Kennomichi, panted as he, like Inoue, finally caught up with Me'epo Sripathi, the Fallen Holy that had chosen him for battle. As Aiseki slowed to a stop he was surprised to see Me'epo lying on the ground as though asleep, only to sit up and yawn expressively.
"Oh!" exclaimed the olive-skinned Me'epo mid-yawn. "I'm glad you finally made it!"
"I haven't been able to do a complete shunpo yet…" panted Aiseki, his body hunched over with his hands on his knees. "I've been stuck in a gigai for years…"
"False body?" asked Me'epo, now standing and stretching as one would before a workout. "Wait…don't tell me…you're Mark Anders, aren't you?"
"That was what I was called in the Mortal world," replied Aiseki. "But that was all a lie…a lie perpetrated by Ryojin. My true name is Aiseki Kennomichi" Aiseki tried to take his tone more seriously with those words, hoping to match his words with the gravity of the situation, but it seemed that Me'epo was too busy having a good time to take anything seriously.
"You're the one that Ryojin was always talking about!" exclaimed Me'epo emphatically with a clap of his hands. "All of us were trying to figure out why he was so interested in you, but none of us could figure it out…of course, until now."
"What do you mean?" asked Aiseki, to which Me'epo smiled.
"You look a lot like him," continued the somewhat childish Holy. "I figured that you had to be part of his old family from Jizengensei, and now that I see you face to face, I can definitely see the resemblance. You're his son, aren't you?" Aiseki cringed as the memory that he tried so hard to forget rushed back into his mind, those words that seemed to slice his soul apart, my son.
"That's what he told me," replied Aiseki softly. "But he's a monster…if he truly was my father, he's all but forsaken that now."
"You speak strongly for someone who knows so little," retorted Me'epo, his tone now becoming far more dark. "I assume that if he told you of that, then he likely explained to you the situation we are in?"
"I've heard enough to know he's insane," replied Aiseki defiantly. "He wants to destroy this 'God', all in the name of preventing souls from being lost. But it's too diabolical, and too many would perish to meet his self-righteous goal!"
"I'm glad I chose you," said Me'epo upon hearing these words. "I haven't been able to laugh for a quite a while. Now then, Shinigami, draw your sword, and let's get this thing started." Me'epo turned away from Aiseki and continued to stretch, but soon turned back to see Aiseki in his same position, sword still in the scabbard.
"What's the deal?" pressed Me'epo. "I said to draw your sword. You are a shinigami, right?"
"I am," replied Aiseki. "But my zanpakuto prefers to stay in its sheath."
"What?!" laughed Me'epo. "What kind of shinigami has a sword that's afraid to come out? Boy, you really messed up when you made your zanpakuto back in Jizengensei, Aiseki. Oh, man!" Me'epo continued his rude laughter for several moments, but as soon as he saw that Aiseki would not respond or react, he cut his laughter short and wiped his forehead.
"What is your name?" asked Aiseki, removing his still-sheathed katana and holding it in his hands before him.
"Me'epo Sripathi," replied the Fallen One. "Former Officer of the Sixth Holy Commission and loyal servant to the great Ryojin Valhalla. I must say, Aiseki, you're kinda being a downer. If you're not careful, I won't feel bad about killing you and your comrades."
"We cannot fail," countered Aiseki. "Lucian and Declan both feel the same way; what the Viajante is doing may seem right from your perspective, but it feels so wrong, so evil…we must stop him, and if I perish in this end, then so be it." Me'epo's animated
face fell at these words, and he lowered his face and sighed.
"To be honest, I really chose you because I didn't feel like fighting," he said after a moment. "At first I considered that babe, but her reiatsu was too agitated. Out of all the group, you seemed like the one most averse to fighting; I for one think that Jigenseisokuka is overreacting, what with his order to kill you all."
"Jigenseisokuka?" asked Aiseki. "The order wasn't from Ryojin?"
"Are you kidding?" laughed Me'epo incredulously. "Ryojin, giving an order like this? But anyway, I really didn't want to fight; instead I hoped we could hang out and shoot the breeze for a little while, pretend to get all beat up, then let someone else deal with you later on. As it is, however, I'm sure you won't cooperate with that." Me'epo then raised his right arm straight into the air and closed his eyes.
What is he doing? thought Aiseki, but as he did so Me'epo spoke out in a loud voice.
"Judge him, Sharresh."
Next chapter: AN IMMINENT END
BONUS! Okay, so I've given up on the funny bumper idea. It was a good one, but I'm just not funny like that. Anyway, couple notes about the language used in this chapter.
First, most of you might wonder where in the world I came up with a name like "Oliblish". Well, as it so happens, the ancient Egyptians believed in a very complex universe, wherein the order of the stars and planets was governed by certain celestial bodies. One of these was called Oliblish, being the second-nearest planet/star to where God dwelt. You'll probably see more of this stuff later.
Second, while Kyeongseok is Korean, his zanpakuto has a Japanese name. Why? I can't find an online translator that spells out Korean in Roman letters like Romaji Japanese. And if you're wondering, Tomeiningen literally means "Invisible Man".
Finally, Sharresh is just a name I made up. Don't go nuts trying to find a meaning for it.