Bleach: Waves and Rapids
Part IV: Hollows War Arc
Chapter 24: The First Wave
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach and its characters, except for the OC's being introduced into the story. These characters (and Zanpakutō, if applicable) belong to me, and me only.
I could see almost nothing. I couldn't hear anything. I could not speak. I barely felt the shihakusho that clothed me. I felt no weight from my Zanpakutō. I then realized I wasn't breathing. I took a large gulp of air, or whatever I was breathing.
I was in the Void.
I heard something behind me. It sounded like someone was singing or some form of music.
Jiyuu tte, setsunakunai desu ka?
Hitori ni nattanda ne
Jiyuu tte, setsunakunai desu ka?
Doko made mo...
Isn't freedom painful?
I'm now alone, aren't I?
Isn't freedom painful?
Endlessly so...
"Come on now, don't get lost," I heard someone say. I blinked, and I saw Anson appear from nothingness. My sight started to return; it now seemed like I was walking in outer space or something. "Now, if I didn't notice you lagged behind, you'd be stuck here until I found you again. This Void stretches on forever."
"Did you hear that?" I asked.
"Many things are heard in the Void. If it was a voice other than angry or depressing, you're one of the lucky ones."
I nodded. I followed him as he "tore" open a section of Void and revealed Rosche and the others. It seemed like they were hiding behind a curtain or something.
"It's not much longer. It feels as if time is being wasted, but this realm is the only place where Time roams not."
"You sure like to talk now..." Rosche said. "Before, you always kept to yourself."
Anson made no comment as he came across a door. "Sekai no mon ga akemashou," he said, and another portion of Void opened to reveal a bright light. "Again, you all go in first. But know that we have forwarded a week in time; Captain Kuchiki and Soi Fon half that amount. You shall all find yourselves in your rooms resting; I have already taken the Head Captain's permission for all of you to be exempt of duties for that week you missed." We nodded and shuffled past Anson, but I noticed him looking back and whispering something, but I didn't hear what he said. The light enveloped my sight, and I saw black.
...
My eyes immediately opened. It all seemed like a dream: the Bankai training, the Kidō and Shunpo exercises, walking through the Void; it all seemed like a dream. I got up and rubbed my eyes. Was I sleeping all this time?
I got up and looked around the standard furniture of the Shinigami quarters. In the corner away from the door to the hall, I spotted Shionari sculpting something out of water. It seemed like a person holding out a sword-like weapon in an offensive pose. One would easily pass the sculpture to be made of crystal at first sight.
You had been sleeping an additional hour, Shionari said, while molding in her character's face. Grooves were suddenly pressed into the head, followed by a bulging sphere for the eyes, then eyelids partially covering the eyeballs.
"Everyone else has awoken?" I asked.
Anson and Rosche checked up on you not too long ago. I told them you'd be awake soon. Besides, the calmest waves only emerge during sleep, and my imagination roams the most then, though sometimes, I enjoy watching them quietly. She snaked around and started detail on the sword's guard.
I took a breath before lifting myself out of the bed. I straightened out my Shinigami uniform and looked out of the window. The barracks grounds were sparsely filled with Shinigami, but they seemed tense. "Let's go," I told Shionari, and she immediately abandoned her sculpture and dissolved. The sculpture dissipated into water vapor. I exited the room and locked the door behind me.
"Oh, Socrius-san." I noticed Rikichi running up to me and bowing. I was first flattered, given that being re-Americanized changed my viewpoint on the Japanese culture. I bowed in return. "There has been an executive meeting," he continued. "All Shinigami are requested to meet at Sōkyoku Hill in about fifteen minutes. Yamamoto-sotaichō has words to say for all of the Shinigami regarding the war."
He repeated himself, I thought. "Thanks for telling me," I told him. He bowed again before leaving. I trailed down the stairs and into the main streets. I wonder what happened with Anson and Jorden? I had just remembered Jorden and his Zanpakutō; not being to manifest it would result in... magazines being burned? I sighed again as I shook the idea off my mind and walked towards Sōkyoku Hill.
"NOOO!"
Anson sifted through the cinders of the first issue of pornographic lolicon. It didn't matter to him; he hated pornography for various reasons he would gladly tell an inquirer; more so given the underage appearance of the subjects. To him, this was a treat. To a benefit, it served Jorden two purposes: his Zanpakutō deal and a room-cleanup.
"Not another! NOOO!" Jorden was already on the floor, already traumatized at the discard of a magazine. Anson only picked up yet another magazine, a black hair girl staring back while dressed in provocative clothing. It disgusted Anson until he burned the magazine with a low level Kidō spell.
"How do people even like this crap?" he asked quietly, flipping it around before skimming through the pages. Nonetheless, he burned the bound pages again, feeling relieved at the destruction of his detested. "It's the same with the World of the Living, hm? Desperate because you can't get a girl to marry you, so you get a bottle of lotion instead?" Anson stared at the mess around him, with a few mags there, a few sodden Shihakusho there, and an unfolded bed. "The room needs a cleaning too. But first things first, your mind." Anson snatched another porn mag off the ground. "And Fifth Division? You still carry an Asauchi even though you're a Fifth Division member? I kept wondering what Captain Hirako was thinking!"
"No, not that one too!" Jorden was crying. "No! NOOO!" Anson burned it despite his cries, but he was getting awfully hysterical over pages bound by a few staples. Plus, the screams were starting to kill his eardrums.
Anson took another magazine only to have it ripped out of his hand. Anson looked back to see it stuck to the wall, impaled by some sort of knife, though it was angular and blocky. Anson barely approached the magazine as the knife crumbled into small panel-like blocks. Confused, he looked at Jorden, whom was surrounded by three of the same knives.
Jorden threw the remaining knives at Anson, whom repelled them with Kidō. They crumbled into the same angular panels, so Anson resorted to catching the third. It reminded him of something from the World of the Living.
"Transform," Jorden uttered, raising his hand out, "Henkei! Scythe!" The panels assembled in Jorden's hand, assuming the form of the weapon Jorden commanded. He leapt at Anson, most likely in vengeance for either wasted money or destruction of his prized possessions. Anson hoped it was the former.
He lifted a hand to stop the blade, pouring Reishi into it to protect his hand against the blade. There was a spark, and Anson pushed Jorden away with Kidō, Shō.
"Your Zanpakutō," Anson said, picking up a panel on the floor that was discreetly pushing the magazines under the furniture. "Henkei; with the power to transform." Anson sighed and shook his head. "Four magazines for late work due. As much as I want them destroyed, I'll spare you your porn. Damn, how I hate saying that word... Now get going. Yamamoto is not waiting for anyone in the executive meeting."
"I hate you..." Jorden whimpered, picking up the ashes of a destroyed magazine. "I saved up so much kan for each of these..."
"Cleaning your room is a great place to begin. It keeps unwanted hands away from your things." Anson waited for Jorden to accept the losses, then walked out behind Jorden to attend the Head-Captain's meeting.
Everyone had gathered already. Apparently, I was just in time; the other Shinigami were just getting into a presentable formation. I looked around for Captain Kuchiki, but I noticed the red ponytail that stuck out amongst the crowd. I quickly dashed toward his position.
"Captain Kuchiki wants Seat order!" Renji was saying. "Manade, you're supposed to be on the right of Shino! Back three rows, scoot back! You're cramping up the rows in the front!" Renji face-palmed, muttering to himself. As he looked up, he noticed me. "Ah, Socrius!" he called. He jumped off of the box and clapped me on the shoulder. "How's it been? Better from some weird training incident?"
I gave him a sheepish grin. "Something like that, I guess. Captain Kuchiki's coming later?"
"Probably... he left me in charge, but the unseated here aren't working with me. You should get in line; Old Man Yama's gonna be speaking any minute now." I nodded and Renji was back to yelling at the inexperienced.
I noticed Anson, Rosche, and Jorden walk toward their lines. Anson headed to the front, where Lieutenant Hinamori was desperately trying to work with the Fifth Division's attendance formation. Anson placed a hand on Hinamori's shoulder and raised his hand.
"Everyone, rows of ten, except for the front row!" Everyone ran back and forth to get into the commanded position. "Now, stick out your elbows and spin around!" he said. It seemed ridiculous to me, and I was barely able to resist laughing as nearly all of the member's of the Fifth Division started spinning while pretending to be chickens or something. Those who made contact with another pair of elbows moved aside. The whole scenario lasted about thirty seconds, and they were still. "Good. And we're the first to be in correct position." The Fifth Division was filled with cheers, but the cheering stopped with another raised hand by Anson. What a creative way for formation setup... I thought. It seemed like an unorthodox World of the Living formation setup.
Two minutes later, the Sōkyoku Hill fell silent. There was the slow shh of sandals scraping over rock as Head Captain Yamamoto made his way to the front of the congregation. I bit my lip as I shifted a little into the Sixth Seat position; Daichi was absent anyway.
"Shinigami of the Gotei!" Yamamoto declaimed. "All of you are aware of what has happened in the time of two weeks. The Ruler of the Hollow Realm has disapproved of our action; the retention of the Visored.
"We have had reasons involving them. Should we, in our Shinigami laws, execute them as being abominations that should never have been created? Or, should we instead keep them, since they were our partners and shared our beliefs?" Yamamoto paused. "We decided the latter; even allowing the former captains receive their post again. But the Ruler, in his rage, whisked them away and turned them into the beings whom we were sent to cleanse."
A murmur rose amongst the crowd, but Yamamoto tapped his walking stick against the ground twice and the talking stopped. "This is not war! This is a defense, given they gave the first strike without declarations of war. We have sent many petitions, yet the Ruler has responded with violence. But now, we will venture into their territory and retaliate! They will not harm the Soul Society any longer!" The Shinigami roared their cries and lifted Zanpakutō into the air. "Those whom are contemplating battle, head for the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. Kurotsuchi-taichō will give a short briefing; you will make your final decision here. For others, you shall stay at home to guard Soul Society; but many higher-seated members of the Thirteenth Division have already been assigned positions throughout Rukongai.
"Ones headed for war will follow Kurotsuchi and the first wave through Garganta portal ready at the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. Dismissed." The Shinigami roared as they headed in other directions to prepare for war, though there was a large concentration toward the Twelfth Division barracks.
I noticed Anson speaking to Yamamoto as I prepared for the Twelfth Division barracks. He then glanced at me and beckoned me over. Rosche, Jorden, and Brandon then stepped forward to face Anson as well. I walked over with thoughts ranging from 'Stay in Soul Society' to 'You will be the decoy to trap the Hollow King'.
It was nothing like that though. "Head-Captain Yamamoto," Anson said. "I have come to you of a request. Allow me to take Brandon Lee, a Shinigami Academy student, to the battlefield with me."
Yamamoto looked at Anson with an open eye. Though it looked old and fragile, it seemed to be brimming with power. It made me shudder when he spoke: "Why do you wish to place a student in further danger?"
"I have been approached by his father; the Third Seat of the Second Division. Due to the hierarchy of the Second Division, he must first report to Captain Soi Fon of his intentions, and so he told me to ask on his behalf." Brandon stared at Anson incredulously.
"Why would my dad ask of something like that!" he asked.
Anson glanced back. "I asked; he told me 'Something a father has to do after being gone for a while'." I could tell Brandon was easily stumped.
Yamamoto sighed. "Very well. You may have Brandon accompany you to Hueco Mundo. However, the conditions of war upon him are yours to blame."
"One more request," Anson stated. "Allow me to meet up with Urahara Kisuke." Yamamoto now stared at Anson with both eyes, though they were of surprise. "Perhaps I should have informed you, but Kurosaki Ichigo has been volunteering to go to battle ever since a week ago."
Yamamoto had quickly sent a member of the Kidō Corps to activate the main Senkaimon to Karakura. I managed to catch up to Anson as we ran across the bridge. "Is there some reason behind bringing Ichigo Kurosaki to Hueco Mundo with us?" I asked.
"He is a strong soldier. I have witnessed his act of bravery of taking on the Soul Society to save Rukia Kuchiki, nearly meeting Death several times. I have also seen the reports of his Vasto Lorde form, given he was 'created' a true Shinigami during Plus-Hollowfication in Urahara's Shattered Shaft. If he is able to control his Hollow-like instincts, he will help in the war to install a new government. This king isn't abiding by the Contract of the Spirit Realm, and so must be replaced."
"This is starting to sound like the start of the Twenty-First Century in the United States of America," I hinted. "We don't approve of other governments and because of our contract papers, we go to 'reform' the governments." I shook my head in frustration at the similarities.
The exit Senkaimon brought us outside the Urahara Shōten in all of its dingy glory; a small hut on an empty lot and stuck between two larger modern-day buildings. Jorden sniffed the air. "Smells like candy," he commented.
"Aside from selling Shinigami products," Anson explained, "he's also a candy-man. Doesn't mix well, but it allows income to come from both Spirits and Living." We walked through the hut's open doors. A red-headed boy greeted us bluntly, "This is the Urahara Shōten."
"We knew," Anson breathed, but the boy didn't hear.
"Hey, ol' geezer!" the boy shouted into the back. "A Captain's here, but where's the Garganta fixing guy?!"
Urahara's voice lazily projected from the back. "I'm coming, I'm coming..." He emerged his unkempt self and shifted the hat onto the top of his head. He brushed his clothes down before greeting Anson. "Greetings Raynes-taichō... you know about..."
"Yeah. Ichigo Kurosaki is getting impatient. Let's get your Garganta fired up, shall we?"
Leaving the red-head behind, we walked toward the back of the shop. A trapdoor lay on the ground. I peeked down only to see a speck of light at the bottom. "It's a half-kilometer ladder," Urahara said. "But it is made of spiritual energy, so normal people only see a black hole. I usually cover it with cupboards and stuff, but they get too heavy after a while." He jumped down the hole without starting to climb down.
"Don't worry. He is an exiled Shinigami," Anson said. "The Soul Society isn't looking for him anymore, but they still don't allow him in the realm though. But, Hueco Mundo is free ground, so it doesn't matter." Anson jumped down, following Urahara.
"Looks scary," Jorden said, approaching the hole.
"Just remember your Hohō skills. Push." With that, Rosche dumped Jorden's head into the hole. Absolutely unprepared, he fell through head first. A few seconds later, I thought I heard a distant crash. "Shit," Rosche said. "I may have broken a few of his bones by accident."
"Accident?" I asked as she jumped down. Brandon didn't respond, but he jumped down after Rosche.
Definitely not an accident, Shionari commented, materializing for a moment.
"Of course..." I followed through with my jump into the hole. My heart raced as I started accelerating toward the center of the Earth...
After two seconds, I found myself plummeting toward a rocky plain, stippled with rock formations, dead trees, and large gashes in the ground. A small gathering of people stood before something like a portal frame made of paper-y stuff. I gathered Reishi underneath me to slow my descent, and I landed on the ground. A few feet in front of me lay a cracked crater. I walked toward the congregation of people and looked around. To me, Jorden seemed fine, though he was a bit dusty.
Aside from Anson, Rosche, Jorden, Brandon, and Urahara, there were four other individuals. I had already met Ichigo, the tall, orange-haired, delinquent-looking person, but the other three were unknown to me. Two were guys; one was slightly taller than I was, wore glasses, and was outfitted in white and blue clothing. His hair was neatly cropped on both sides of his head. The other was large and bulky, and his hair covered his eyes. The third, a young lady, was orange-haired just as Ichigo. She wore a purple blouse with flowers and an orange skirt. "Stop staring, it isn't nice," Rosche hissed, and I heard Jorden whimper in pain.
"I always thought you preferred flatter chests," Brandon whispered. He chuckled before grunting in pain.
"These perverts..." I heard Rosche say to herself, "why am I even friends with them...?" I turned my attention to Anson and Urahara, who were inspecting the frame structure.
"Apparently, it seems like it has been used quite a lot," Anson commented.
"I got a raise for gathering Hollow specimens for Kurotsuchi-taichō," Urahara explained. "I don't know why he needs so many Hollows, but I don't care anyways." I heard a sigh. "The SRDI belongs to him now."
Anson didn't reply to the comment. "You may need to replace the bindings."
"I would have, but I figured calling you, O Master of Portals, would be quicker than a month's work of inscribing Kidō runes onto paper. Plus, that's with Tessai helping."
"I'll see what I can do." Anson performed a few quick hand signs while chanting quiet words. Characters started writing themselves on the ground around him,then peeled off and surrounding him. He finished speaking while clapping his hands together. After a second, Anson let out his left hand and the characters poured onto the hand. His right hand pointed at the frame and stated "kin". The words latched onto the frame and an ominous ball of energy appeared in the middle of the frame. "Akete!" Anson commanded, and the ball of energy expanded into a background of visual noise.
Urahara clapped his hands in applause. "Wonderful! A month's work done in seconds. Your Kidō skills always fascinate me, Raynes-taichō."
"Permanent Garganta require much harder seals than permanent Senkaimon," Anson said. "To me, it was a three-out-of-four chance that I would work. Just remember; just say 'open' to open the Garganta and 'seal' to close it. It will also prevent Hollows from going to and from worlds through your shop."
Urahara nodded. There was the sound of metal hitting the dirt ground. Everyone turned at Ichigo, whom had drawn his giant trench blade of a Zanpakutō. "Let's go! What the hell are we waiting for?!" He turned to Urahara. "You told us to wait a week for the Garganta fixer, he did his job, so we go in, right?!"
"Yeah, but..."
Ichigo barely heard "but" before he dove into the Garganta. "He's really been itching to return to Hueco Mundo," the glasses person said. "The only time I've seen him go that badly was when you were abducted, Inoue-san." He referred to the orange-haired girl.
"Rukia helped him become what he is now, Ishida-kun," Inoue replied. "She's a very important person to Kurosaki-kun." The two entered the Garganta after Ichigo. The third grunted as he rose to his feet and jumped in after Ishida and Inoue.
"Raynes-taichō," Urahara said. " I hope you don't mind them too much. Hopefully, a Quincy and two humans don't interfere with your plans."
"It reminds me of Zetsuen no Tempest," Anson said. I was unfamiliar with the title; a book or TV show? "The main character saves the world, but only as a by-product of his actual goals."
"But, what are your actual goals?" Urahara questioned ominously. "That's what everyone is waiting to find out." Anson chuckled. "Besides, I'll be waiting here. I do believe Kurotsuchi is having fun since he can bring home some Hollow specimens."
"I'll tell him you said 'Hi'," Anson said. "Rosche, Brandon, Jorden, Kai; let's go." I followed through as last in line. I was about to jump in when Urahara stopped me with a hand pulling my shoulder back.
"Zetsuen no Tempest?" I asked.
Urahara smiled. "Raynes-taichō is a cunning bastard. He can trick anyone. But it doesn't matter how he tricks you; it's more of a why he tricks you. But let me tell you something.
"Keep what is important close to you. Don't ever, ever let that object of importance go. Do not abandon it. I wish I were there to tell Raynes about it, but that time is since gone." He pushed me into the Garganta, and the portal to World of the Living closed as I fell. I turned and saw little figures running on glassy platforms; Reishi.
The Quincy, Ishida, was floating on his panel of Reishi as though he were surfing. Anson was doing the same, with Brandon hitchhiking on the Anson's panel. Rosche seemed to be walking in mid-air, but she was only creating small platforms just enough to walk on. The others; Jorden, Ichigo, and the big guy; were running on large Reishi platforms, though the big guy was following along Ichigo's platform.
"Wait up!" I yelled, shunpo'ing after them. I set my feet down and conjured my panel of Reishi. I mimicked Anson and Ishida in riding their plane, surfboard-style. I willed myself faster until I had caught up with them. An opening ripped apart before us, and all I saw was a desert.
We all abandoned the Reishi platforms and landed in the sand. I took a gulp of breath; it tasted gritty unlike the "air" of Soul Society. "Welcome to Hueco Mundo," Anson announced.
He walked over to a tree and pulled a slip of paper. Markings were burned on the paper, but they were too small to make out. Anson, with his finger, drew a mark on the petrified tree, rubbing away a few layers of dust in the process. When Anson removed his finger, the air became heavy.
"Now; who is willing to share Hollow Reiatsu?" Anson asked.
Ichigo had already raised his blade. "Getsuga..."
Then came the confusion. Anson briefly disappeared and appeared in front of Ichigo. Ichigo's Zanpakutō flipped into the air and stuck out of the sand like a monument. "A Getsuga Tenshō with your caliber may as well destroy the frame into the next level of Hueco Mundo. We need something more forgiving..." He turned to me. "Kai; remember your first patrolling day?"
"Huh?" I replied, clueless.
"You don't exactly need to remember," he replied, waving his palm at me. "Just use your Zanpakutō on the space between these two trees here."
I warily drew Shionari, remembering Urahara's words about Anson. I released Shionari and was about to guide her toward the designated area...
A pillar of sand arose from the ground behind me, and I heard shrieking roar of a Hollow. I felt reiatsu build up to my right and heard Ichigo's voice: "Damn these things... Getsuga Tenshō!" and then heard something similar to a firework going off.
I turned at the commotion as a large sand-man of a Hollow was sliced in two by a crescent wave of energy. "You hit it!" Jorden cried enthusiastically.
"No, he didn't," Anson said, casually removing a World of the Living water bottle from his Captains' haori. In the place where the first sand-man stood, two more took its place, both about ten stories tall. "Now Ichigo... I'm sure you've encountered some Runuganga in Hueco Mundo during Aizen's insurrection. First, calm yourself. Next, find water or run. But since the latter doesn't apply to me, ask me."
"Then use the damn water!" Ichigo yelled. More and more sand-men arose from the desert around us.
"Concentrate Shionari in that general area," Anson told me, ignoring Ichigo's words. "The unlocking of the portal takes a large amount of Hollow reiatsu. I figured the amount you have will be enough."
"Then use the damn water, dammit!" Ichigo yelled once more.
"The gate will open with half a minute," Anson continued. "So, just wait. If you move Shionari away, we won't be going anywhere."
I nodded, but I kept my eyes on Anson. "Use the damn water!" Ichigo kept yelling, obviously mad at Anson. A Runuganga had drawn close, and had a hand outstretched at Ichigo.
"I told you to ask, not demand," Anson replied sternly. He then drew Jikan no Uranaishi and stabbed it into the ground. "Akete," Anson uttered, and a geyser of clear water spouted from the circle. Anson then pointed at the direction of the Runuganga, to which the water started to flow over the desert of Hueco Mundo. The horde of Runuganga evaporated in the torrent, while the water continued to flow.
"Shimete," Anson commanded, and the water ceased to flow. "Kai, is the gateway open?"
I drew Shionari back, and where there was nothing, now stood an extremely wide doorway about ten feet tall. Beyond the gate was a dark looming palace of some sort, like the Forbidden City in China.
"Your majesty, the entrance to Hueco Mundo has been open."
The king stood silence. "Thank you for stating the obvious, Sy. Take the prisoners to the secure tower. After this task, you shall mobilize the Hollow Forces. I am sure Raynes will come with his Shinigami partners. Send the Messengers to guard the interior; leave the Hollows after given instruction. Do not allow them to retreat; relieve them of their conscience for self-preservation."
"Already done, your majesty." Sy stood. "However, I shall deal with Raynes, and I will return once my task is finished."
"Bring me his head and body as proof," the king sighed. "The body will be burned in the throne room in my presence; I care not who kills Raynes, but whether the job is done or not."
"As you wish." Sy then exited the throne room and headed out for the window. He raised his scythe and shook it once; a clear jingle rang throughout the landscape; the Hollows emerged to meet the Shinigami.
"Only the clash of blades will create peace, but a little word will stir the flames of war. The two armies, both just in their arguments, shall meet on their appointed battlefield. And there shall be created a bloodbath that shall create a lasting peace..."
"The landing zone has been secured!" Anson cried enthusiastically, uttering, "Bakudo Twenty-nine, Noren Mukkuri!"
A faint beam of light erupted from Anson's hand to reveal a portal frame connected by thin, shimmering threads of Reishi. Anson placed a hand on the frame and it expanded to the same size as the portal into the "Forbidden City". With two knocks on the frame, there formed a ball of Reiryoku, which then expanded to fit the entire frame. Figures appeared from the depths within the portal. "Where were you hiding that?!" Ichigo demanded. However, he was completely ignored.
"Together we shall stand," Anson declared, "and divided we shall fall. All glory, all honor; victory is upon us. In this battlefield, further fighting shall be averted by a bloodbath that shall create a lasting peace."
The roaring became louder as the Shinigami force poured out of the portal and into the Forbidden City. Ichigo gave out his own battle cry and disappeared within the ranks of Shinigami into the battlefield, with his companions closely following. Anson turned to me and said, "All of you come! We must reach the castle before Ichigo and his friends. The infiltrator has provided a path to the castle."
I nodded and drew my Zanpakutō, Rosche doing the same. "Bankai!" we uttered, and the five of us mounted on Mugen Shionari and Raimei Tori and surged into the carnage with the cries of Shinigami, the cries of Hollows, and the shrieks of Ceros all resounding beneath us.