Wiping the sweat from his brow, the Vice-Captain of the Sixth Division struggled to control his breathing. The very thought of what he had just heard stuck his core. Despair... hopelessness... The growing chaos and destruction around him left him with nothing as he stared at the black blade to his left.
The atmosphere, having grown darker since the blue sky had been covered by gray clouds and rain of Halibel's Ressurrecion, caused nothing but the feeling of sadness within the ranks of the Shinigami army.
'Transmittal blades... Used by the Riteitai communications branch of the Second Division... Used to convey messages effectively to communicate both ways across long distances on the battlefield.'
"It can't be..." he whispered to himself as his opponent, one of the three battalion leaders of the invasion force, took a step forward; the ground shaking slightly with each step it took. 'To have to resort to this means of communication... A last resort tactic...'
His memory went back to a few moments ago, when Nanao's voice echoed throughout all of Seireitei by means of those blades.
"Head Quarters... And the... 12th Division has fallen... The Kido Corps... has been obliterated... Vice-Captain's Yumichika, Isane, and Ururu... are dead... We couldn't stop him..." After that, silence...
More than anything, he was furious he didn't have even a moment to mourn his fallen comrades. Not a moment to clear his mind... not a moment of silence as the screams of the Shinigami around him cried for back up.
Kira, shaking, tightened his hold on his released zanpakuto, his vision growing slightly cloudy as he stared up at Arrancar that had just used Resurreccion. The behemoth that was before him stood as tall as a two story building; a muscular build that reminded the Vice-Captain of Ayon, the beast that had nearly killed Matsumoto and Momo the last time Aizen attacked the shinigami. It's body was covered in metallic scales; it's face covered by a demonic looking tiki mask.
Yet despite the Arrancar's ferocious appearance, it's voice gave way to gentle tone.
"Forgive me, Shinigami-kun. Before today, I never would have considered using Ressurrecion. Despite my appearance, I have no love for battle. But I can't allow you to assist your HQ. You are the first in over three-hundred years to witness this form. Dondochakka Birstanne, Mighty Shield of the great Neliel Tu Ordelschwanck"
The shinigami looked over his shoulder to his partner, the two having been exhausted so much that they had to resort to pushing against each others backs to continue standing. "Iba... We have to get to HQ... "
"I know! But there is no end to this," As he locked eyes on his own opponent a massive explosion roared off in the distance.
The Arrancar that stood before him, remained human in size; after Resurreccion. His body was adorned in armor that resembled a Hercules beetle's exoskeleton. It's mask; sporting two great horns.
"Pesche Guatiche, and like my friend... It has been three hundred years since I last used this form. And while Dondochakka is Neliel-sama's Shield, I am her Sword. While we fight together, you cannot hope to defeat us."
Before another word could be spoken a great shadow passed over them, causing all four fighters to look skyward.
Iba's eyes widened behind his glasses.
"C...Captain!" He cried, realizing that the shadow had been Komamura's Goliath Bankai that had been launched across the sky like it was nothing but a rag doll.
The ground shook as the mighty bankai slammed into the ground so hard that the entire Bankai was covered my a mound on ruble and upturned earth.
Iba made to run to his fallen captain, but froze when Pesche blocked his path. "Forgive us, we cannot allow you to interfere with Neliel-sama's battle."
The second he finished speaking a wave of reiatsu descended on them as Neliel walked into the destroyed courtyard in her Resurreccion form.
While Neliel's eyes remained focused on the huge pile of ruble before her, she nodded her head.
"Pesche, Dondochakka..."
Both Fraccion bowed before her.
Kira watched the Espada closely, he couldn't believe what he saw. The Espada had a lone tear rolling down her cheek.
'So she is their leader... but they aren't even hurt... Then why... why is she crying?!'
"I cannot remember the last time I saw you two in those forms."
Both Numeros looked ashamed, "Forgive us."
"You are not to blame for this madness... Aizen is."
Iba, taking advantage; ran past the Arrancar and towards the ruble.
"Hado #33! Sokatsui!" Kira shouted, releasing a wave of blue fire towards Dondochakka, who didn't look threatened in the slightest.
Neliel's eyes narrowed as she jumped between her subordinate as the blast; easily redirecting the kido skyward with the back of her hand.
"Stand down, Shinigami." She whispered sadly. "I am only required to take the life of a Captain. Please do not make me take another life. I will not allow you to hurt my loved ones."
Kira's eyes hardened, "How dare you! How dare you say that to me... after your people have killed so many! So many of my friends... SO MANY!"
The Espada frowned, "If it were up to me, none of this would have happened. Tell your battalions to stand down. This invasion... it is not an extermination of Shinigami."
The Vice-CAptain's eyes widened, "What... do you mean?! Look around!"
Neliel did just that and saw fallen Shinigami and Arrancar everywhere.
"We have only been ordered to crush your soldiers, not kill. The balance of souls is to great for even Aizen to ignore. Stand down..."
"WWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOHHHH HHHH!"
Every spun around as the massive mound of ruble erupted into the sky.
Neliel's eyes narrowed as both Komamura, and his Bankai, emerged.
"Captain!" Iba shouted in relief, a sense of hope renewed in him. Relief, quickly gave way to worry though seeing the condition of his bloodied captain. His right arm, from his elbow down, was gone. His chest cut up so badly that his ribs could be seen and blood matted fifty percent of his fur all over his body.
Despite all of his injuries, Komamura stood stood up proudly as all the fighting between both armies in the vicinity stopped to watch.
"Don't fall to despair!" The Captain roared, his voice echoing through the transmittal blades throughout the Seireitei. " It is shameful for the soldiers of the Gotei Thirteen to lie down while we Captain's are risking our lives to defend it!"
All around the Seireitei, the army's morale raised; just the slightest bit as they renewed their assault to push back the invading army.
"You are about to fall Captain, your army has lost. Stand down. Bow down to our leader, and I promise you will be spared."
Komamura's eyes flashed with fury. "I will never bow down to Aizen!"
"It is not Aizen... to who we bow down to."
Komamura's eyes widened in shock as the words left the Espada's mouth, but before he could asked her anything further a wave of reiatsu engulfed the battlefield and a loud rumbling echoed over the gray clouds above.
Neliel's eyes widened in disbelief, "This reiatsu..."
Before the war, Aizen had made sure each Espada could trace and distinguish the reiatsu of each Captain level Shinigami within the Seireitei. This colossal reiatsu... it surpassed even...
"My own!" Komamura finished, "This reiatsu surpasses even my own! It... It couldn't be..."
"Never..."
Neliel and her Fraccion spun around as a lone Shinigami stepped into the courtyard.
Iba, Kira, and Komamura couldn't believe their eyes.
Chojiro, Vice-Captain of the First Division, stood before the Espada and her Fraccion and raised his released Zanpakuto towards the sky, "Never have I used this in front of another soul... Ever since the creation of the Gotei Thirteen. And never... have I used it in actually battle..." He whispered darkly, his eyes showing a fierceness that matched even the Captain Commander's. He closed his eyes, "Forgive me for letting things get this far... Captain..."
(300 Meters above the Seireitei)
Aizen watched as Yamamoto grinned.
"Is there something I have missed? Or is it that you truly think that what he is about to do will change the course of this war?"
Isshin glanced at the aged Shinigami.
"Indeed, you have missed something. The fact that he is about to use "That" can mean only one thing. He believes that we cannot win. It is for that very reason you remember this very moment. Watch what happens when you utterly crush a warriors principle's and force him to turn his back on his personal vow..." He raised Ryujin Jakka, "AIZEN!" He roared, releasing a wave of fire at the Ex- Captain.
(Northern Seireitei)
Chojiro's eyes flashed yellow, "BANKAI! " All of a sudden a massive spear of lightening burst forth from the tip of his sword.
Neliel eyes widened as the storm clouds grew darker, "No... Way..."
The lightening bolt reached fifty meters into the sky before transforming into a massive dome of pure electricity above the Shinigami's head that was fastened to the ground by a large number of lightening pillars.
Neither Kira, Iba, or Komamura couldn't believe it.
"This is... the Bankai of Vice-Captain Sasakibe?!" Kira shouted in disbelief, over the roar of thunder.
Komamura shook his head, "What reiatsu... a zanpakuto that rules over the weather. It's the first I've seen after Captain Hitsugya's Hyourinmaru!"
Chojiro slowly raised his left arm.
Neliel's eyes grew wide as fear filled her entire being, she spun around towards Pesche and Dondochakka as fast as she could.
"Pesche! Dondochakka! Ru..."
Before she could even finish her despairing cry, Dondochakka, despite his size, used sonido to shoot towards Neliel and backhanded her hard enough to send her flying.
Pesche's eyes widened as Chojiro lowered his hand, "Dondochakka!"
Less than a second later the two-story tall Arrancar was engulfed by a truly massive lightening bolt.
"Dondochakka!" Neliel cried, tears rolling down her face as her Fraccion's shillouette showed that he was trying to reach out to her.
Komamura and the two Vice-Captain covered their faces as the pillar of lightening intensified.
"Stop!" Neliel cried, running towards the lightening. She felt as if her heart stopped.
'NO! Please not Dondochakka!'
The pillar remained for several more seconds before dispersing.
Pesche's eyes widened, "no..."
Dondochakka was standing completely still, his eyes blank... his entire body smoldering and scorched from the intensity of the attack. He couldn't even find words to speak.
"Dondochakka!" Neliel continued to yell, running towards him.
Chijoro's eyes darkened, "How does it feel? Bitter isn't it? Watching your subordinate suffer so much... helpless as he begs for help. Your feelings, can not even compare to the bitterness and hatred of all the Shinigami that have lost their lives!"
When she got within ten feet of Dondochakka, Chojiro did the most heartless thing he could think of.
Neliel and Pesche watched in despair as the Numeros was once more engulfed in a pillar of lightening.
"Noo!" The Espada cried, falling to her knees and reaching out to her friend.
Pesche's eyes flashed with rage as he spun around and charged Chojiro, hoping to end the lightening assult. Not only did Kira and Iba intercept him, but Komamura stepped forward; his mighty bankai looming overhead.
The lightening bolt continued for an entire minute before it finally dispersed .
Dondochakka remain exactly where he had been; ninety percent of his flesh had been charred, his mask had shattered... not a single organ remained unfried.
"Don..." Tears rolled down Neliel's eyes as she knelt before his massive form, "Don... Dondochakka... Please... Please..."
Without warning, the colassal Arracnar fell back and slammed into the earth. The Espada ran up to his head and tried as best she could to wrap her arms around him. "Please... don't die..."
And with his very last breath, he whispered... "N...Nel...Neli... Neliel... Sama..."
For Neliel, time froze. Nothing could move her... not the sound of Pesche crying her name to warn her of Chojiro's raising his arm once more... not the sound of the countless fighting going around her her... nothing.
Pain... Pain unlike anything she ever felt before filled her being as Chojiro once more called down a bolt of lightening from the heavens.
And in the darkness of her pain, only one thought echo's in her mind.
'I hate them...'
The lightening intensified.
'I hate them...'
Pesche cried her name in dispair.
'I hate them...'
Her blood felt like it was boiling her her flesh felt like it was cooking. Yet even amidst one of the strongest attacks a Bankai could release, she raised her lance.
"I HATE YOU ALL!" She cried as the lightening continued to descended upon her and did the unthinkable by launching her reiatsu lanced lance has hard as she could. 'Lanzador Verde!'
Chojiro couldn't believe his eyes as her "drilling" lance shot out of the lightening pillar in his direction.
Unfortunately, the lance did not reach it's intended target due to the lightening altering it's course. Chojiro was missed, but it hit the next best thing.
Chojiro's eyes widened, "N... No..."
Komamura looked confused as he looked up towards his Bankai.
Neliel's lance hit home, having drilled a massive hole in the giant's chest.
Iba couldn't believe his eyes, "C... Cap...tain..."
The Captain shakingly looked down at his own chest. Like his Bankai... he too had a gaping hole in the center of his chest.
"I...Ib...a..." The Captain fell to his knees as his great Bankai slowly began to disperse..
Chojiro quickly turned around.
Neliel was standing before him, despite her severe injuries her eyes burned with hatred, "I'll kill you... all of you..."
(East Seireitei)
"I warned you, didn't I?" Dordonii snapped standing before Gantenbainne's corpse. "Why would you attack a Bankai head on?" He looked over his shoulder at the five Sin Numeros behind him that had already released into their Gillian forms, "Learn from his mistake and you may earn a place among the Primera's ranks."
"Not if your dead with him!"
Dordonii's eyes narrowed darkly as he looked up.
Matsumoto stood before all six Arrancar, a massive one hundred foot long Jaguar made entirely of ash, sat directly behind her.
"Amazing, Rangiku-san..." Momo stated, kneeling beside her friend while she healed Nemu's newly received injuries. "But your right arm..."
Her right arm was covered in blood.
"I'm fine, just focus on healing her, Momo. You did enough by taking out that female Privaron Espada. I'll take care of these Arrancar." She quickly raised her hand, "Go!Katakana!"
The mighty cat shot towards the group of Arrancar and jumped; dispersing in a storm of ash mid jump.
"Run Ninio's!" Dordonii shouted fearfully, using sonido to evade the wave of ash.
Unfortunately, the five Sin Numeros weren't fast enough.
The second the ash engulfed them they were ripped to shreds faster than a blink of an eye.
Matsumoto swung her arm once more.
The ash grew more chaotic and spread throughout the battlefield they were currently in and supported the shinigami battalions in destorying an entire group of arrancar before reforming into a massive jaguar and bounding back towards Matusoto and guarded her from a long ranged cero released from Dordonii.
Roars of joy filled the air as Matsumoto single handedly managed to push the invading army back .
'I can't fail Toshiro!' She thought, locking eyes with Dordonii who began releasing two enormous cyclones from the exhaust spouts on the armor cover his legs.
"Keep pushing forward! We're finally pushing them back!" Matsumoto shouted as her Bankai roared victoriously. A smile graced her lips.
Momo couldn't believe her eyes as she watched Matsumoto and her bankai pushing Dordonii back. 'Rangiku-san... you really have gotten strong!'
The second Matsumoto released her Bankai, the Shinigami divisions guarding the Eastern part of the Sereitei had a morale boost that was instrumental in having pushed the army back to the very boarder of the Seireitei's boundaries.
It was very obvious that Matsumoto's Bankai was meant for large groups of enemies. Every Calaveras that touched the ash had disintegrated without any means of defense. Perfect for pushing back a bunch of weaklings.
"D...D...Dordonii..."
The former Espada turned from his cyclone beasts that were currently locked with the ash jaguar.
"We can't stop them..." Cirucci whispered wealking, coughing up blood. "We need to retreat for now!"
Dordonii glared at her, "Do you want to be the one to explain this defeat to Aizen, or even worse... Ichigo?"
The female Arrancar winced, "This Vice-Captain, she's too..."
Dordonii glared, disgusted at her weakened for and slammed his foot into her face, knocking her out cold.
'You always were a coward, no wonder Aizen abandoned us. We were weak... now's our chance to prove to Ichigo that we still have what it takes to be...'
A low growling caused the Arrancar to slowly look up.
The great jaguar was looming over him, her fangs barred.
Rangiku glared from across the courtyard, "It's over." With a simple wave of her hand, her Bankai
pounced and utterly destroyed the final person that the Arrancar could count as man strength on the eastern side of the Seireitei.
Matsumoto released a sigh of relief while ten of her subordinates used Shunpo to kneel before her.
"What's wrong?"
"Vice-Captain Matsumoto-sama! The enemy army is still coming in strong! Their numbers are still a threat!"
The orange haired Shinigami spun around, "Hinamori, are you okay here by yourself?"
Momo nodded, "Go! We'll join you as soon as Nemu..."
Before she could finish her sentence, ten Sin Numeros, all in the visage of Gillian, surrounded the clearing they were in and released instantaneous Ceros.
Matsumoto's eyes widened, realizing she couldn't save all the Shinigami surrounding her. With a surprisingly clear headed mind... and with a heavy heart... she used her Bankai to defend herself, Momo, and the four shinigami closest to her.
The ten Ceros detonated in a massive explosion...
(South Seireitei)
"The Tres Bestias have fallen!" A Sin Numeros shouted, releasing a crimson cero from the palm of his hand while simultaneously falling to his knees. "Fall back!"
Another Sin Numeros stood beside him, "How do you ever hope to one day become an Espada with that kind of mentality."
"Who the hell are you? I am in command of this Battalion after the Tres Bestias!"
The Sin Numeros smirked, "Luders Friegen," He swiftly shot forward and impaled his right am into his commander's throat. "Pleasure to meet you." and explosion rang out a hundred yards behind them, causing Luder to look around; removing his blood covered hand from the Sin Numeros's throat. "But your right, without the Tres Bestias we will find no victory here. Not with those three..."
(Main Battle Front: South)
"Damn these guys keep coming!" Hiyori roared, swinging her blade and splitting three calaveras in half while Mashiro released a sweeping neon green cero and obliterated another seven.
"You'd think that with their battalion leaders defeated," Lisa looked behind her. Sung-Sung, Mila Rose, and Apache lay several yards back all three bloodied and their body's broken. They hadn't stood a chance against Vizards. "They would let up."
"This is too easy!" Hiyori suddenly donned her hollow mask and redirected two Cero's that had attempted to catch the three off guard.
She swiftly used Shunpo to appear behind the two Sin Numeros and beheaded them.
"Mashiro!" Lisa shouted.
Mashiro, now having donned her hollow mask for half an hour straight, turned to her, "Yeah?"
"Don't use your mask for much longer! With these numbers... they are tiring us out quickly!"
Mashiro smirked behind the mask and began running up the three story building near her; there was another Sin Numero on the roof, ready to release another Cero, "Don't worry Lisa-chan! I'm not tired at..."
Hiyori and Lisa watched in shock as the buidling that Mashiro was running on suddenly erupted and a massive fist emerged from the smoke and collided with Mashiro's body; stunning the vizard as the impact had shattered her mask.
"MASHIRO!" Lisa yelled as a colossal shadow moved from within the smoke slammed it's fist into Mashiro, who had already fallen to the ground.
Not only was a crater formed in the wake of the explosion, but the debris dispersed, revealing what had caused Mashiro to be defeated in only two blows.
The sound of weakened laughter echoed, to Hiyori and Lisa, causing them to turn towards the Tres Bestias.
Apache was weakly trying to get up; the best she could do was push herself up against a pile of ruble, "Nice... Ayon..."
The realization of why this monster wasn't in combat with the three former captains suddenly dawned on Lisa, her heart stopped as she spun around, "Kensei! Love! Rose!"
Mile Rose, unable to moved her body at all, smiled, "Those three? They're probably..."
Hiroyi looked off towards the direction of Love, Rose, and Kensei worriedly
Several hundred yards away, three captain-level Vizards were scattered around the battlefield, their body's crushed by Ayon's unparalleled strength...
"Probably... not doing so well"
The mighty obelisk's shadow was suddenly cast over the two Vizards and a sense of doom filled them, Ayon had crossed the distance faster than the two could react.
"Finish them... Ayon..."
And with that, a great roar echoed throughout the Seireitei...
(West Seireitei)
"Puny Shinigami!" Poww, in his released form that reached several stories tall, stared down at Rukia. "I won't fall as easily as my brothers!" Deep gashes littered the behemoths body, as well as countless spirit arrows Uryu had shot at him. His breathing was labored... his speech slurred, yet he did not fall.
"Did you really think you could get away with killing Ggio?! Primera-sama will not be pleased!" he opened his mouth as wide as he could and began charging a bright green Cero.
Rukia's eyes narrowed, "How dare you invade Soul Society!" She shouted back raising her blade
before her and increasing her reiatsu. The display of power wasn't needed and the reason appeared a second later.
Poww faced showed one of disbelief as he was LIFTED of the ground.
"R...RU...RUKIA..."
Rukia's eyes widened as she watched the display of her friends strength.
"Ch... Chad?!"
The mere "HUMAN" had managed to lift what was an equivalent to a hundred-story building.
"HE"S MINE RUKIA!"
And like he was tossing a mere toy, Chad threw the Arrancar and sent him crashing into the ground.
"Nice, Chad!" Uryu shouted from above and releasing a wave of spiritual arrows that created a wall between the three and the invading army.
Chad shot forward without fear and like a man possessed ran straight towards the incoming battalion of twenty Calaveras.
Rukia took on a battalion of her own, leading her group of ten against the enemy's twenty. "Keep pushing them!" she shouted, glancing at Chad, who was shattering the Arrancar's masks and crushing them with a single blow to the face. Not a single one was skilled enough to touch him, even a Sin Numeros was fodder for Chad, who had developed far more than any of the other fighters.
'Ichigo...' Chad thought, head butting a Calaveras and shattering his mask, 'I won't stop fighting...' four more Arrancar fell. 'Not until you and Orihime are back!'
"We might actually win this..." Uryu whispered appearing beside Rukia and releasing another three arrows.
She glanced at him as she ran forward, slicing her way through the enemies ranks "Yeah... "
"You don't seem so sure." he snapped narrowly avoiding a Cero that a Sin Numeros had released.
"It's just that..." She sharply turned a nearby corner and froze.
She wasn't the only one, she could see that every Shinigami had done the same as well as Uryu.
"What... What is that?" The Quincy whispered.
Off in the distance, in the very center of the Seireitei, the battalion watched Sabe's massive dragon from launch high into the air. With it's mouth opened, a blinding white orb, several times the size of it's already massive body was being formed.
"Is that... Cero!" Uryu whispered, "No way can that be allowed to hit the Seireitei, what the hell are those three doing over there!"
The situation only grew weirder when the "dragon" released the Cero, but not towards the Seireitei. The Cero... had been released into the sky; aimed at absolutely nothing.
"What the hell?" Uryu whispered, both relieved and confused that the Cero didn't detonate anywhere near the Seireitei.
(Sokyoku Hill)
"Thank you..." Renji whispered, half of his Shinigami robes scorched off and shards of his Zanpakuto scattered around him.
"I don't require any thanks, for saving the lives of my allies." A soft voice whispered, it's owner standing a few feet in front of them.
Ikkaku fell to his knees, unable to keep himself for spitting up a huge amount of blood due to severe internal hemorrhaging. It was a surprise he was still conscious,"You did... save us..."
"After all that confidence... We couldn't even defeat a single enemy that trampled our pride as a Captains..." Hisagi whispered weakly, his Shikai shattering into countless pieces.
"Tch, did I really have to step up?" A blonde haired Shinigami whispered in annoyance standing over the three of them in a protective gesture. "I was only supposed to provide additional protection to Captain Unohana while she led the Fourth Division in healing the army. Though, I guess she doesn't need it to begin with..."
Shinji, his Zanpakuto released, glared at the massive dragon that circled above the four captains.
"I guess I had to step in the front lines earlier than I thought I had to." Unohana added, glancing back at Shinji, "I have already ordered several healing squads to your fellow Vizards and to HQ, shall we?" She finished, locking eyes with the dragon...
(Author's note)
Sorry about such a long wait. I have a lot going on in my life right now. But the chapter is finally up, I hope u all enjoy it! Next chapter... What you've all been waiting for.
