Sammael dodged another strike from Lieutenant Abarai. His chest wound was bleeding profusely despite him feeding spiritual energy to the wound. Again Abarai whipped Zabimaru at Sammael. The Knight of Hell swung his sword and deflected the attack.

"Come on! Give me a challenge," Renji whined. "I have been training for months to defeat some on Aizen's power level and you don't even come close."

"Screw you Soul Reaper," Sammael seethed. "If it weren't for that wretched woman I would have your head already."

"Keep talking," Renji smirked. "Might keep you alive a little bit longer." He swung his sword again and this time the blade bit into Sammael's forearm when he deflected Zabimaru. Hissing in pain, the Knight grabbed ahold of the segmented blade and yanked Renji towards him.

"Now I got you," Sammael grinned as he moved to stab Renji.

"Think again. Hado 31: Shakkahō!" Renji unleashed his signature red fireball in Sammael's face blinding the knight. He snarled and swept at Renji with his hand only to have Renji kick Sammael in the gut. With the demon warrior doubled over Renji slammed his fist into the back of Sammael's head. He collapsed to the ground breaking his nose on the pavement. Struggling to get up, Sammael glared at the Soul Reaper spitting blood and mucus out of his mouth.

"Well get on with it! Kill me already!" Sammael snarled.

"There's no point. You're already beaten. I won't kill an opponent who can't fight back," Renji said resting Zabimaru on his shoulder. "I'm out of here." He turned around and started to walk away.

"Don't turn your back on your enemy!" Sammael surged off the ground and aimed his sword straight at Renji's heart. Spinning around Renji batted Sammael's sword aside and slugged him in the face again. Sammael went flying back and collided with a building, cracking the outer wall.

"Now stay down," Renji growled. Sammael just groaned, barely moving.


Captain Zachariah knelt behind the remnants of a storefront. A demon cero went flying over his head as Zarathos' demonic form kept him pinned down. The energy blasts stopped for a minute, long enough for Zachariah to prop his AR on the edge of the window frame and aim at his enemy. He quickly unleashed a barrage of reishi-composed bullets at Zarathos. The demon warrior was a flaming skeletal warrior wearing a black leather jacket with pronounced spikes, dark pants and gloves. He wielded a flaming sword and chains.

Zarathos snarled as Zachariah's barrage pounded away at him forcing him to take several steps back.

"You are rather annoying prey," Zarathos growled. "Do all Soul Reapers hid and cower when they fight their enemies?"

"It's called using the environment to your advantage." Zachariah then slipped his left index finger inside the trigger guard to his grenade attachment on the underside of his AR-15. "Fire in the hole." With a dull thump the grenade launched and slammed Zarathos in the chest knocking him off his feet. Zachariah ducked back down as it detonated leaving a decent crater in the pavement where Zarathos had landed.

Zachariah slowly walked towards the smoking crater rifle at the ready. Growling Zarathos got to his feet, the flames surrounding his head billowing. Zachariah immediately unloaded his gun into the demon warrior. Zarathos started spinning his chains in front of him creating a shield of the whirling flames and chains. Slowly forcing his way forward, Zarathos swung his sword hard and fast as he reached Zachariah. The captain quickly deflected the strike with his rifle catching the blade between his trigger guard and the grip of his grenade launcher.

"You're a stubborn one aren't you?" Zachariah sneered. "I've killed Hollows stronger than you with that grenade before. Guess I'll just have to beat you into the ground like I do all my recruits."

Zachariah threw Zarathos' blade wide and slammed his stock into Zarathos' jaw. It caused the flaming warrior to stumble back. Zachariah then quickly slide the chamber open on his grenade launcher, causing the spent round to eject and shatter into stray reishi before slamming it shut again, a new round forming inside. Zachariah slammed his barrel straight into Zarathos' chest and launched the second round.

Zarathos screamed as his chest exploded and he was sent flying back. He bounced off the ground several times before coming to a grinding halt. He struggled to get up for a second and then collapsed, returning to his human form. His chest was a bloody mass and he coughed up blood before passing out.

"Sleep tight maggot," Zachariah smirked resting his rifle on his shoulder. "Tomorrow is only going to be worse." The captain chuckled as he realized he said to the same thing to his recruits after their first day of boot.


Captain Kuchiki sent another wave of petals towards the redhaired demon. She bent backwards, dodging them by the barest margin. Snapping back upright, Abbadon threw her fist and fired a demonic cero at Kuchiki. He pulled up another wave of petals to block the strike.

"Hado 4: Byakurai," Byakuya said as he pointed his finger at Abbadon. A pale bolt of lightning burst blasted past the smoke and petals and pierced Abbadon in the right shoulder. She hissed in pain as she jumped back. She had tried to surprise the Soul Reaper by charging at him while he was hidden behind his barrier but that plan clearly backfired.

"Damn you Soul Reaper!" Abbadon snarled. Her beautiful face was marred by the harsh sneer that covered it. "Don't you realize this is futile?"

"What do you mean?" Byakuya frowned.

"The entire Elite Forces of Hell are here! The seven Princes and their armies! I am the Harbinger of the Apocalypse and I have brought my Horsemen. The end of the world is here and you are fools trying to stop it!" Abbadon screamed.

Byakuya glared. "What utter nonsense. Harbinger of the Apocalypse? I think not. You are nothing more than an arrogant woman seeking power."

"Piss off!" Abbadon fired another blast of energy which Byakuya just dodged. "I will destroy you and then Lucifer will acknowledge my power and make me a Princess of Hell!"

"Such selfish goals," Captain Kuchiki sighed. He unleashed his petals on Abbadon, the tiny, pink blades surging forward and swirling around her. With a scream, Abbadon slashed at the petals and dispersed them.

"If you think a bunch of petals can kill me you are the fool!" Abbadon sneered. She twirled her black blade with a flourish and then charged the Captain of Squad Six. He quickly consolidated his petal-like blades back into a singular weapon and blocked the strike. He forced her back and fired another blast of Kido at her. Abbadon brushed it off and the two engaged in high-speed combat.

Byakuya easily blocked and dodged each of Abbadon's strikes. He knocked her blade wide and then blasted Abbadon away with a quick burst of Kido. He then used Flash Step to get behind Abbadon and then stabbed his blade through her back.

"Bastard," Abbadon groaned as she fell from the air. Flames erupted around her and just before she impacted the ground, Abbadon vanished in a trail of smoke.

"Don't think such paltry tricks will fool me." Byakuya scowled as he spun around to block a cloaked figure wielding a flaming axe.

"Herald the End, Harbinger," Abbadon intoned as she swung her flaming axe again. Byakuya ducked under the blade, flipping backwards.

"Scatter Senbonzakura." Byakuya's blade scattered into a hundred pink petal like blades. With a flick of his wrist, Byakuya sent a wave of petals at Abbadon. Twirling her axe, Abbadon unleashed a massive wave of flames. The petal blades impacted against the flames and were easily dispersed. Then Abbadon unleashed a massive blast of hellfire that slammed into Byakuya, blasted him into the ground, and burned him.

Abbadon slammed into the ground next to him and unleashed another blast of flames upon Byakuya. Then to her shock, the captain staggered to his feet. With a look of distain, Byakuya tossed aside the burnt remnants of his haori.

"I tire of this game," Byakuya growled. He held out his sword, tip down. He released it and intoned: "Bankai!" Abbadon stepped back as the blade disappeared into the ground and the sky darkened. Dozens of tall blades emerged from the ground and towered over Byakuya.

"Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."

"Well, shit." Abbadon jumped back several times to gain distance. She unleashed wave after wave of fire against the captain. Frowning Byakuya turned the many blades into countless tiny petals and used them to create a shield to deflect the flames. Three tendrils of blades erupted from behind the flames and charged at Abbadon. She twirled her axe and deflected away all of Byakuya's attacks.

"I will not be defeated by you!" Abbadon snarled. She swung her axe and unleashed a massive wave of fire. Byakuya blocked it only to have a powerful Demon Cero blast through his shield, slam into his chest, and plow him through the nearest building. Brushing off the dust, Byakuya got to his feet and sent another wave of petals at Abbadon.

However this time, Abbadon couldn't escape.

The innumerable blades completely surrounded Abbadon and tore into her. Abbadon shrieked as Senbonzakura Kageyoshi's blades tore into her. Byakuya returned his petals to a single blade and glanced at Abbadon. Her robes were in tatters, her hood fallen away from her face revealing her cut and bloodied face. Blood dripped from her arms and stained her robes in multiple places. Her axe fell from her hands as she fell to her knees.

"Damn you Soul Reaper," Abbadon moaned, blood staining her teeth.

"Any who stand against the Soul Society are to be destroyed," Byakuya stated. With a quick flick of his wrist Byakuya slit Abbadon's throat. Choking on blood, Abbadon fell forward and all life left her.