Chapter 29
Soul Society, Seireitei
It began with a distraction.
Three days after Yamamoto's declaration a massive tear in dimensional space opened in the clear sky above Sōkyoku hill. The colossal hollow aberration known only as 'Hooleer' slowly lumbered a few steps out the garganta and roared so loud that the hillside shook.
As the alarms rang out and shinigami everywhere started pouring out of their barracks, Hooleer opened his gaping maw and literally vomited a small sea of Gillians onto the rocky terrain. The menos slipped and stumbled over each other as they tried to right themselves and their collective howls rang out for all to hear.
With it's job complete and an almost smug look in its one yellow eye the gargantuan and lethargic hollow began the slow process of back peddling back inside the garganta, one big clunky step at a time.
"Oh no you don't you big bastard..." Captain Suì-Fēng muttered under her breath as she scaled the cliffside in a full sprint. She wasn't going to let the monster leave without a going-away gift. Suì-Fēng pushed her shunpo harder and appeared at the base of the execution stand. She skillfully hopped from menos to menos, navigating through the mess of bodies before launching herself into the air and hovering in front of the shrinking garganta.
"You forgot something!" she yelled with a fanatical grin as she thrust her right hand hand forward. "Hado #88: Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō!"
A titanic blue beam of electrical spirit energy erupted from Suì-Fēng's palm and rocketed towards the single yellow eye of Hooleer. The stream of destructive kidō slipped through the thinning garganta and Suì-Fēng was rewarded with a screech of agony from the beast right before the portal finished closing.
On the grounds below her, shinigami officers appeared in droves to start cutting down the Gillians while the dull minded menos desperately fired off ceros in an attempt to defend themselves.
Soul Society, Rukongai 2nd District, Same Time
As the bulk of Seireitei was focused on Hooleer's visit a second much smaller garganta opened up along the border between districts in Rukongai. While this portal was large enough to register on the 12th divisions sensors the technician managing the computer was too preoccupied with the larger incident to take notice right way.
Szayel Aporro Granz and three of his assistants stepped out of the passageway and immediately began unloading bulky equipment with haste. Portable generators, a holographic display map of Seireitei, and computer monitors being just a few of the notable items.
The few citizens of the district who happened to be nearby fled immediately upon seeing the intruders and one man screamed a message about alerting the Gotei 13 as he was running away.
A few minutes later Szayel's mobile command post was operational and he slipped a headset over his ears.
"This is Szayel. We're ready on this end Lord Kurosaki. Last chance to back out."
The connection was hazy and full of static as the devices communicated between dimensions. For a moment he thought that his Lord was indeed considering calling it off. But then, surely enough, the 8th Espada heard the warbled and distorted voice of his commander speak from the other side. "...Proceed with the Invasion..."
Szayel's fingers whirled over his keyboard and with a few button clicks his headset had switched whom he was speaking to. "We've got the green light. You're up Chelute."
Hueco Mundo, Las Noches, Two Night's Ago
The Lord of Las Noches stood tall before his subjects. An uncharacteristic expression marring his face. His usual jovial and carefree smile replaced by an ugly sneer. At his side his right hand Yasutora Sado fidgeted slightly, uncomfortable with the way his best friend had begun acting since the shinigami attack yesterday. Something had changed inside Ichigo. That same darkness from when they were in the prison cell had returned; only instead of depression it brought with it a cold fury.
He wasn't the only one who noticed it either. Earlier the 8th and 9th Espada's deliberately referred to Ichigo as 'Lord Kurosaki' instead of his given name. A habit his friend had been working on breaking them out of after taking over Aizen's rule. Only this time...Ichigo didn't correct them.
Regardless though, Chad had every intention of fulfilling his promise and following Ichigo to the end. Wherever it may lead.
"Soul Society needs to learn that they cannot operate with impunity." Ichigo began. "That their actions have consequences. That they do not get to come into Hueco Mundo whenever it suits them! They do not get to kill members of our family without grave repercussion!" His gaze rolled over the crowd. Meeting the eyes of many Arrancar as he did so. "I intend to teach them this lesson! I intend to carve it so deep into their psyche that they will not even think of bothering us again for the next three centuries! Who will come with me and help educate these so-called 'gods of death'!" he questioned with a mocking shout.
The crowd answered with a series of roars and battle-cries.
"Well then you best get ready! They want a war? We'll give them one they'll never forget!"
Inside The Garganta, Present Time
"...We've got the green light. You're up Chelute..." Came the partially static covered voice of Szayel into Rudbornn's ear.
"Acknowledged. Just a few more..." The Arrancar replied as copious amounts of sweat poured down his neck. He grit his teeth and pushed what tiny fragments of reiatsu he had left into the branches of his Resurreción and 'Calaveras' numbers 2994 through 3000 were birthed like magical fruit.
The final six automatons silently took their post with the last battle group while Rudbornn exited his released state and collapsed onto his butt in exhaustion.
"Deploying..." he reported into his earpiece between heavy pants.
Soul Society, Seireitei
Just as the third to last Gillian was disintegrating from being slain by a zanpakutō, twenty more garganta's opened in even spacing over the skies of Seireitei. Each dimensional tear expelled a group of 150 mass-produced Calaveras soldiers that began to rain down over the city like paratroopers.
Battles sprang up immediately. Bright flashes of kidō shot into the sky taking out a small number of the hollow foot soldiers but the overwhelming majority made it the ground unimpeded. With their landing came the screams of weaker shinigami and the iconic sound of steel clashing against steel.
If one could take a birds eye view over the heart of Soul Society they could bear witness to the city slowly transforming itself into a warzone.
Not too long after the fighting began, one last garganta appeared in the sky. This one roughly the same size as the one that housed Hooleer. From it spouted just over 100 fighters of a much higher grade than the Calaveras already below.
"Those of you with special assignments know what they are." The Lord of Las Noches spoke loudly. "The rest of you spread out and raise hell! And if you spot Kurotsuchi you better damn well call it in! He's mine!"
With that, all but five of the small army scattered in different directions.
"Any reason you asked me to stay behind?" Neliel asked with a tilt of her head. Her two fracción flanking behind her silently.
For a brief moment the hate that had filled Ichigo's eyes the past three days disappeared. His gaze turning soft. "Please...be safe...find him if you can...don't endanger yourself if you can't... I don't know what I would do if I lost you."
"Silly boy." Neliel smiled as she cupped his cheek with one hand. "I love you too. Don't worry. I'll find your father and I'll get him out."
The 4th Espada pecked Ichigo on the cheek and gave him a wink before vanishing in a blur of sonido along with Pesche and Dondochakka.
"Do you really think she'll find him in this mess?" Chad asked with a slight frown. "With so many battles going on, sensing for a specific reiatsu is going to be impossible."
"Szayel knows to tell her if someone spots him." Ichigo dismissed as the hard look returned to his eyes.
"And your sisters?"
"Nirgge is heading straight for the 9th division barracks. He knows to avoid fighting until he can find them. As long as Yuzu and Karin are where they're supposed to be it'll be fine."
"What about your human body? Kon's still using it isn't he?"
Ichigo gave a half-annoyed look to Chad as his best friend kept asking questions. The tall man had been expressing doubts at every opportunity the past few days. "If we happen upon it I'll keep it around for a few years and then get rid of it once I'm ready to slow down aging. I don't need that old thing anymore. You might want to consider doing the same."
Chad just continued to slightly frown.
"Yoshiba! Akio! Do it now!" Ryobe called as he disconnected his sword from the Calaveras.
"HADŌ #31: SHAKKAHŌ!" his two comrades shouted in unison.
The twin fireballs exploded onto the Calavera's chest, sending the Arrancar trooper crashing into the nearest wall before it slumped over and fell dead on the ground. The trio of shinigami's chance to celebrate was unfortunately cut short when four more of Rudborrn's spawn peaked over the closest rooftop and dropped down in front of them.
Ryobe cursed under his breath and swiftly pulled out his denreishinki communicator. "Hideyoshi! Are you there? I've lost half my team! We're cut off and outnumbered! We need an officer down here NOW!"
'Hold the line soldier! We're dealing with problems of our own over here! Keep fighting as long as you can and show these Hollow fucks who they're deal- ' the transmission cut off abruptly.
"Hideyoshi? Hideyoshi come in! Are you there?"
The four new Calaveras drew their blades and Ryobe dropped his communicator to put both hands back on his zanpakutōs hilt.
He couldn't see how his team was getting out of this.
5th squad 8th seat Masanobu's electrified whip shikai wrapped around a duo of Calaveras pinning the two together. With a battle roar the burly man twirled his arms overhead; swinging the enemies at high speed before pulling down sharply and slamming them into the tile ground.
They did not get up.
"Alright!/ Go Masanobu!/You show 'em!" some of his squad mates cheered from behind him.
"I know I know. I'm pretty amazing." the officer said proudly, lapping up the praise.
A slow clapping came from up the street. "Yes yes. Very impressive." A feminine voice mocked derisively. Through the smoke of a nearby collapsed building a woman dressed all in white with bright green hair sauntered towards them. "How would you like a real opponent?"
"Oh? Let me guess? Is that supposed to be you?" Masanobu asked without worry as his whip sparked and crackled.
"Amazing. There's actually a brain cell under all that brawn." she responded as she finished her slow clap. "Yes! Me! The 63rd Arrancar, Nyddia Ferréca!"
Rukongai, 2nd District
Szayel and his three assistants studied the holographic map of Seireitei intently as reports started flooding in on battles waging. Little lights flashing over the map as their forces slowly dispersed throughout the Gotei 13's stronghold.
"Excellent Doloreena. Head southeast and back up Kajarune. He's going to need it." One of the assistants directed while studying the map.
The second one grasped her headset in alarm and nearly shouted. "Has she seen you yet? Then get out of there while you still can! You are not cleared to take on a 3rd seat officer!"
"The 6th Calaveras battle group is being decimated. Edrad, head north of your current position and find out who's doing it." The final assistant ordered.
"Someone get me eyes on Kurotsuchi!" Szayel Aporro Granz barked into his. A touch of frustration lacing his voice. "He wasn't at the 12th and we aren't leaving until Lord Kurosaki finds him and puts his head on a spike!"
Soul Society, Seireitei
"Is this all an Arrancar's Resurrección is capable of?" 2nd squad 9th seat Sukejuro asked. "I find myself...disappointed."
Baeziil Perona coughed up blood as he tried to laugh from his spot on the floor. "I wouldn't...get too...overconfident...shinigami." he spoke weakly as his vision started to fade.
"And why is that monster?" Sukejuro asked smugly. His sword's tip flush with the downed creatures throat.
"We're ranked...by strength...I'm only #98...they don't...get much...lower than me..." he managed to finish before laughing feebly again.
"And what about that is so funny?" Sukejuro had to ask.
"Because...my backup...#71 just arrived...and he's right behind you." Baeziil chuckled out as he died.
Zaraki Kenpachi tore through the crowd of the 17th Calaveras battle group with a bored look on his face. With each and every swing of his sword another opponent was struck down.
"Come on! Come on! Isn't there anyone here who isn't trash?" he almost pouted in a raised voice.
"Go Kenny! You can do it!" Yachiru Kusajishi cheered from atop a nearby building.
Kenpachi's blade cleaved through yet another soldier and the captain grunted in disappointment. "I'm getting bored of stepping on these ants..."
"Here! Here! Here! Here! Here!" an effeminate voice called out as an Arrancar descended from the sky and landed with a flourish. "Eyes over here! It's the most beautiful Arrancar, Charlotte Chuhlhourne!" the man said while striking a pose.
"Eh? Kenny! Look! An ugly guy appeared!" Yachiru chirped excitedly.
"UGLY?!" Charlotte thundered in outrage. "How dare you! Listen up! Those that call others ugly are the ones who are truly ugly! Those like me who are pure of heart are the embodiment of love and beauty...itself..." Charlotte trailed off as he finally realized whom exactly it was he had stumbled upon. Raising a hand to the earpiece he was wearing, he spoke up in an uncharacteristic business-like tone. "Oi. Szayel-kun. I found Kenpachi and his adjutant."
'Don't you ever call me that again Chuhlhourne. I'll reroute the nearest Espada to your location.' The Octava responded in his ear.
"Oh? So you know me?" Kenpachi asked with disinterest, his sword now hanging casually over his shoulder. "Are you one of the strong Arrancar I've heard about or are you just trash like them?" he asked with a slight head tilt towards the corpses of Rudbornn's Calaveras. The few survivors having already scattered to safer areas.
"Of course!" Charlotte beamed proudly. "I was once the faithful fracción of the King of Hueco Mundo and now I serve the new Lord of Las Noches just as faithfully!"
"Ohhh?" Kenpachi grunted with a little excitement creeping into his voice. "Maybe you will be some fun...tell you what. I'll give you the first hit. Go ahead. Give me your best shot. I'll just stand here and take it."
Charlotte raised his chin slightly and looked down haughtily on the shinigami captain. "My oh my. How arrogant...do you start all your fights this way?" he asked with condescension.
"What are you talking about?" Kenpachi replied with a bloodcrazed grin. "This isn't a fight yet. We still need to decide if you're even worth my time."
The Arrancar's face shifted into a nasty sneer. "Well then allow me to demonstrate for you!" he called out as he held his hands in a heart shape. "Ultimate Technique, Beautiful Charlotte Chulhourne's Final Holy Wonderful Pretty Super Magnum Sexy Sexy Glamerous...CERO!"
The violet extra-wide cero exploded out of Charlotte's hands consuming Kenpachi and the entire street with him. Charlotte watched with great satisfaction as his opponent took the direct hit and the walls on both sides of the captain were vaporized.
Then he felt the sword cut him in half.
"Ah...what a let down." he heard the shinigami's voice from behind him. "Turns out you were just trash after all...let's go Yachiru."
Kenpachi received no reply except for the wet plop of both halves of Charlotte Chulhourne hitting the ground.
"Yachiru?" he questioned as he looked up to where he left her.
His expression turned murderous as he saw his lieutenant draped unconscious under the arm of a grinning blue-haired man.
"Who the hell are you?" he barked angrily.
The blue-haired man shared a crazed grin of his own.
"The name's Grimmjow! The 6th Espada!"
