A vortex of crimson reiatsu freely flowed around Urahara, a grin etched on his face as he stared across the Ninth Division's Courtyard, his eyes locked his former friend. "What's the matter, Tessai? No tears? And I thought you missed me."

No words could describe the feeling of sadness that swelled up within the kido master, "So in the end, I couldn't save you... Kisuke. Our worst fears have been realized."

Urahara looked affronted, "Have they?"

"Espada # 9, Aaroniero Arruruerie, defeated by Vice Captain Kuchiki during the winter war. Aizen used Inoue Orihime's abilities to revive you and in turn you absorbed Urahara... You may even bare the same reiatsu signature... but your not Urahara." His eyes hardened, "If you plan was to shaken me, you have succeeded," His reiatsu steadily began to rise. "But you have also succeeded in angering me beyond all reason!"

The ground began shaking from the power of his reiatsu. All the while Urahara stood, smiling at the Captain's hypothesis.

"Your only partially right, Tessai. But I must ask this next question, were you ever truly my friend? If you truly believe something as pitiful as an Espada could defeat me... You didn't know me at all." Urahara whispered.

Tessai's eyes flashed, hearing Urahara's voice and knowing his friend was no longer alive pained him to no end, "So you will continue this charade?! You would dare mock Urahara further?!" His hands shot up, "Hado # 86 Amaterasu!"

Urahara looked down on the ground and found himself in the center of a massive black ring of fire. "Oh dear, you've activated something quite troubling... How long has it been since I've seen you use this Kido?" Before he could utter another sound, the fire intensified and engulfed him in a column of flames that reached one hundred metered into the sky.

(Flashback – Several Months Earlier – Las Noches (Prison))

Aizen stood several feet from the largest cell in the Prison District of Las Noches, his calm eyes locked on the prisoner that was chained and bound in place.

The prisoner in question was knelt, head bowed to the ground; seemingly in defeat, his arms outstretched by the chains.

"Do you you think I am a fool?" Aizen asked calmly.

The prisoner smirked, "Must I answer that truthfully?"

The former Captain grew quiet for several moments, "This cell, all of these cells, aren't meant to contain beings of our caliber... Urahara Kisuke."

The prisoner looked up and the two locked eyes.

"I should have known it wouldn't be so easy to unlock the knowledge within your mind. To think... you would be able to reverse Arroneiro's ability to absorb spiritual beings. And not only that... I can not sense a shred of Arroneiro's reiatsu within you. Arroneiro is no longer, but you never fully returned back to normal... did you?"

Urahara smirked, "That has always been your problem, Aizen." The two locked eyes, "You believe knowledge is the most important thing in the world. Imagination... that is what is truly important... and it is why you will always be beneath me."

Aizen glared, "The only man whose intellect exceeds my own..."

The chain's binding Urahara suddenly came undone, "allowing" him to stand up on his own and slowly walk over to the end of his cell, in turn Aizen walked up.

"As I look into your eyes, where there was once light... I can only see darkness. For all your struggling to be free of Arroneiro... you still fell to the corruption of a hollow. You are no longer the man you once were... and that... makes you useful."

"What's this Aizen? Do you truly expect me to believe you would let me, the only one intellectually capable of stopping you, free? Come now, I'm smarter than that. You would never trust me. After all, a man such as yourself doesn't have the leisure of trusting someone he can't kill... Is that not why you don't trust Kurosaki Ichigo?"

Something flashed in Aizen's eyes, causing Urahara to grin.

"You can't trust me... because you can't kill me."

"Yet..."

Realization dawned on the blonde Shinigami, his eyes falling to Aizen's clothed chest. "I sensed it's presence the second you recreated it. Funny." He whispered.

"Do I sense resentment in your tone, Urahara? It must pain you... knowing that I will master it, something you were never able to accomplish before."

Urahara laughed, "Yes, 'before'. Come Aizen, let it chose between the two of us... which is more worthy of it."

Aizen's expression remain stotic, "You have forever lost your chance to drive the Hogyoku, Urahara. In that aspect, you have lost." There was a short pause as tension passed between them, "Until this very day I would have never believed I would be offering this to you... Join me."

The Shinigami looked taken aback, "What do you have that I want?"

"Absolutely nothing. You are not the type of man that can be bought. But there is a reason you didn't escape your cage yet and that reason escapes me. I will not pretend to understand what is running through your mind."

"And if I stay yes, what do you want from me?"

Silence passed between the two once more.

Aizen smiled. Urahara was probably to being closest to understanding him.

"Information concerning the..."

"No." Urahara snapped in annoyance.

Aizen's eyes flashed again.

"I guess I was wrong in thinking that you would see differently now. With your intellect, why do you make no move. Why would you continue to obey that thing?"

The Shinigami frowned, "The Spirit King... So you have seen it. Soul Society would splinter if not for The King. He is the Lynchpin. Without it, the spirit world would crumble. That is the way the world works."

"You no longer have an allegiance to that place."

"Nor do I have an allegiance to you. You should know how important the balance is... Do not ask me to divulge such information again, and I will follow you..."

(Flashback End)

Tessai's eyes narrowed as the pillar of black flames began to recede, "I should have known..."

In the center of the black flames... a dome of white that began to recede as well.

"That I would have the counter to that kido spell..." Urahara finished.

The Kido Master watched sadly as Urahara slowly pulled out a katana from his robes.

"You would dare use her against me, Espada?"

"Why wouldn't I? Benihime is a part of me." He whispered, unsheathing his Zanpakuto, "SING: BENIHIME!"

Tessai swiftly used shunpo to evade the arc of crimson reiatsu. He reappeared a moment later, greeted face to face by his friend, who had a single finger pointed against the center of his chest.

"Hado #4 Byakurai!"

Before the bolt of electricity could even peirce his chest, Tessai batted Urahara's wrist up; sending the lightening skyward. The blonde glared for the quickest moment before a elbow slammed directly into his face and sent him crashing into the ground.

"You haven't changed at all... your movement's are all the same." A smile as he recovered, "How nostalgic."

"Why do you continue to fashion yourself as Urahara?"

Urahara's sneered, "You sound like a broken record, Tessai. You leave me no choice, after all... I owe you this much..."

Tessai made to jump back when Urahara appeared directly in front of him, but wasn't quick enough. The blonde Shinigami placed his middle and index finger against his oldest friends forehead, transferring the memories of how he had become as he was now... and another memory.

(Flashback- Several Months Earlier- Las Noches (Tower Five- Throne room))

Sitting atop his throne, Aizen stared down as Urahara made his was up a long flight of steps.

"I've been wondering, Urahara... Your effort in helping us invade the Seireitei... it coincides with your wish to maintain the balance of the worlds. If that's so... why are you helping us at all?"

"That answer is simple enough." Urahara got to the top, "I can exploit the Seireitei's greatest weakness and get your army into the white city, but nothing will change... You will fail."

Aizen glared at him, "Your meaning?"

"If it was just the Seireitei you were attacking, it would be easy enough to invade and bring it crushing down. This time all Thirteen Captains will be on the same battle field and it won't be like last time. The only reason you survived last time was because Yamamoto didn't use Bankai. That won't be the case this time around, and when he does... not even ****** will stand a change against him. That's not the worst of it... If we defeat them... the Royal Guard will have no choice but to interfere. When they do, you and your army will be disintegrated into naught but dust. You will be getting a little taste of what the Royal Guard is capable of. After all, one of equal power to them will already be amongst the captains, and this time he will be at full power... and will be coming straight for you..."

"Kurosaki... Isshin..."

"And that's not all you have either, Ryuken Ishida will also take part and he is just as dangerous. Though your no longer out numbered... you will be severally out powered."

"Kurosaki Isshin, Genryusei Yamamoto, Ishida Ryuken... They can be dealt with. And the Royal Guard can't be stopped, but they will be stalled long enough for my war to end. "

"I'll believe that... when I see it. Is this why you had Ulquiorra summon me here?"

"I have paired up each of my Espada with a Captain of the Gotei Thirteen. If my Intuition is correct, to avenge you, I can foresee Tessai taking up one of the empty captain positions." Aizen watched for any change of expression.

None.

"I see,"

"You will do it. None of the other Epada besides ***** would be capable. His skill with Kido is far too great."

"That man has been my friend for countless years. And he is a great man... no one will be affected by his death more than me..."

(Flashback End)

Tessai fell to his knees as he returned to reality, unable to comprehend all that he had just experienced.

'No... There's no way...' Sweat poured from his head, he was pale... his breathing erratic. "K..Kis...Kisuke? You would... willingly follow... Aizen?"

"Aizen? No... He is a child, throwing a temper tantrum because he doesn't like the way things are going. I would never work for him." Urahara stared down at him.

The Captain cried out as Benihime sliced across his chest and even worse when Kisuke thrust her into his abdomen with enough force to pin him to the ground. Tessai coughed up blood, trying to remove the Zanpakuto while shaking.

The shocked look on Tessai's face caused Urahara to turn and begin to walk away, leaving Tessai pinned to the ground by Benihime."I will come back for you when this is over..." He suddenly stopped a few feet away and looked at the number six on his hand... It was beginning to burn.

A small smile formed on his face, "We've run out of time... He's coming..."

"I... I was right after all... Urahara Kisuke... Is dead... He never survived his imprisonment in Las Noches..." Tessai whispered weakly, just loud enough for Urahara to hear.

The blonde shook his head as he got further away, "You could have been such a great ally..." and with a echo of remorse in the depths of his soul, he began, "Seeping crest of turbidity..."

A lone tear rolled down Tessai's cheek, he knew the incantation of this kido well "Do you know what makes me sadder than losing you?"

"Arrogant vessel of lunacy..."

The sky directly above the two began to darken further. The roar of thunder echoed all around them.

"Boil forth and deny. Grow numb and flicker. Disrupt sleep. Crawling queen of Iron..."

The rain from Halibel's release intensified, showing that her own battle was growing all the more dangerous. Black boxes of dark energy formed around the fallen captain, slowly encompassing him.

"Ururu... She lost Jinta... Lost you... and now... she will have nobody..." Tessai finished sadly, closing his eyes.

"Eternally self-destructing doll of mud. Unite. Repulse. Fill with soil and know your own powerlessness... Hado # 90..." Urahara ignored the pain in his heart. And heartlessly whispered, "Kurohitsugi."

(Destroyed West Rukongai)

"You truly are..." Yoruichi whispered tiredly, struggling to remain standing, "The toughest opponent I have ever faced."

Wonderweiss weakly tried to remove the Shinigami's hand that was currently tightening around his throat and slowly causing him to lose consciousness. After what felt like an eternity, the Arrancar had succumb to Yoruichi's devastating violent onslaught.

Her eyes hardened, "Never has anyone pushed me so hard," blood and gashes covered a majority of her body. "Now before you die... You mentioned Ichigo... Where is he?!"

Wonderweiss eyes, which had begun to steadily roll to the back of his head suddenly refocused on her.

"Ichi... Ichigo... Sama..."

"And why are you saying sama?!" She dropped the Arrancar on the groud before her and watched as the Espada tried to lift himself up; he only succeeded in turning on his back. "You have the ability to comprehend rather well... but it's as if your mind is... programed only for battle. I'm warning you... Don't move another inch."

As if frozen in time, the Espada stopped attempting to get back up.

"Kurosaki Ichigo, where is he?"

Wonderweiss suddenly looked skyward.

"Kurosaki... Ichigo-sama... Is... Coming..."

Yoruichi's eyes widened in shock, "What?!"

Seeing it as an opportunity, Wonderweiss reached up; aiming directly for the Shinigami's left eye. Fully intent on plucking it out.

"I warned you not to move!"

Unlike before, Yoruichi's eyes flashed with rage before intercepting the attacking arm and slamming her fist into the small Arrancar with the remainder of her reiatsu; engulfing both of them in a column of dust and an earthshaking expolsion...

(Central 46 Compound)

A massive explosion of black reiatsu swept through the compound of the Central 46, the source of the reiatsu so vast that the black clouds and rain that loomed over the entirety of the Seireitei, that had been brought on by Halibel's release, dispersed in a five mile radius of it's source.

Byakuya Kuchiki shot out of the explosive reiatsu and crashed into the ground, seventy five percent of his body covered in blood, his captain's haori long since had been destroyed.

"The name of that technique... Senkei"

Ulquiorra stood in it's epicenter, eying the captain expressionlessly.

Byakuya glared as the black reiatsu died down. 'He defeated Senbonzaukra's true form...'

"You told me I was the third person to have ever witnessed it..."

Ulquiorra's eyes narrowed, "I expected much more from a Captain of the Gotei Thirteen" The few shallow cuts that Ulquiorra substained quickly healed.

Byakuya raised his right arm, "Hado # 59! SENT..."

The captain saw black as Ulquiorra appeared before him, grabbed him by the face, and slammed him into the ground.

"You Shinigami speak so fondly of pride... And nothing to show for..."

The Espada's eyes widened as a massvie surge of Reisatu shot towards him; it's source slamming his foot into the hollow's face and sending him crashing into the ground.

"Tch, did you really think that a cero could stop me?" Zaraki spat, slightly annoyed as he rubbed his neck.

"Of course not, the cero wasn't to kill you. If I wanted that, I would have aimed for your head."

Zaraki grinned, "Is that right," he glanced down as Byakuya slowly got up, "Your Pathetic Kuchiki, why the hell are you allowing yourself to be tossed around like a rag doll."

Byakuya glared, "I could say the same about..."

Ulquiorra closed in on them instantly; and thrust his lance towards Byakuya, only to be engulfed by countless flower petals, " You've already tried this plan of attack and diversion,"

Zaraki sliced through the petals, dispersing the countless blades.

Ulquiorra had stopped the zanpakuto with his forearm.

"And you, removing that eye patch should have made you stronger. I can't seem to tell the difference."

"Your taunting now?" Byakuya asked, waving his arm before him.

The Espada used sonido to avoid the attack, "My speed far outshines your own."

"So it does... Gokei!"

The stream of petals suddenly dispersed and reformed almost instantly, engulfing the Arrancar in an orb of petals.

Ulquiorra glared as the petals began collapsing against him, "This is new..."

Zaraki grinned and charged the orb, placing both his hands on his zanpakuto. ""Nice Kuchiki! Keep him there a second longer! I doubt he can regenerate any of his vital organs! I'll finish him with kendo!" He shouted, increasing his reiatsu drastically.

Ulquiorra's eyes widened, "That's a bit too much... You are Captains after all."

Zaraki swung straight down, engulfing the entire area in a massive explosion of yellow reiatsu.

"Now... Kuchiki!" Zaraki shouted over the roar of the explosion.

"Bakudo # 63 Sajo Sabuko!"

Chain's of blinding light suddenly shot into the explosion and wrapped around the Espada, The Captain didn't end there.

"Bakudo # 79... Kuyo Shibari!"

The explosion suddenly dispersed.

Uquiorra stood perfectly still, bound in place by golden chains; his chest showing that Zaraki's attack had nearly sliced him completely in half.

Eight black holes, that emitted black reiatsu, formed around the Espada; a ninth formed in its center.

Zaraki smirked, "You used your weapon to soften the blow slightly, without it... you would be in two pieces by now."

The Espada didn't even wince, his eyes locked on Byakuya. "You will sustain from the killing blow, and not go for the kill?"

"I will not risk you regenerating from even a killing blow. No matter how much Zaraki despises the idea."

"You can't kill me, so you resort to seal me... What a foolish notion. That's quite merciful for a general of the enemy army."

"In no way are you being shown mercy. You are simply too dangerous an opponent to allow unchecked. You will be dealt with soon enough. For now... you've failed. You will not step a single foot within the Central 46 compound."

"You've have already admitted to being unable to kill me, what makes you think I am not strong enough to break free of this pathetic seal. Can you not see the difference in strength?"

Zaraki glared, "I've heard enough out of this guy. I'm out of here... You take it from here, Kuchiki."

Ulquiorra stared at the back of Zaraki's head as the captains began walking away.

"What is it with you Shinigami? Do you truly not believe we can't crush you under our heels. The two of you speak as if you have never seen true despair."

"True despair... Your army as rampaged through the Seireitei and brought it on the brink of oblivion." Byakuya's eyes narrowed, "I was forced to sense malevolent beings invade the Seireitei, resulting in the massacre of all these warriors... leaving nothing but an empty void in the families of my subordinates.. and you would have undoubtedly killed the two of us if you hadn't been sealed... I understand your meaning of Despair very well"

Zaraki sneered, "Kuchiki, are you getting soft? Finish the sealing process before..."

As the captain spoke... Ulquiorra felt the his number '5' on the back of his hand begin to burn. He looked skyward. 'So you've come...' His eyes locked on Byakuya once more. "What you describe is not despair... what you have described... is humiliation." Byakuya's eyes narrowed, "Humiliation for failing to stop this war before you lost the lives of your subordinates."

Zaraki stopped mid step and looked over his shoulder, sensing a spike in Byakuya's reiatsu; he knew the Espada words hit home. "Kuchiki... what the hell are you waiting for?"

"Tell me, how will you explain this failure to the families of all your subordinates who you could not save?" Ulquiorra whispered darkly.

Byakuya's eyes flashed with rage and shot towards the Espada.

Zaraki stopped his fellow captain before he got to close to the Arrancar.

"Do be so weak, Kuchiki, he's trying to break free of your seal. Don't be a freak'n idiot!"

Ulquiorra stared at both of them, "I don't have time to slowly introduce the both of you to true despair."

Zaraki's and Byakuya's eyes widened in disbelief as Ulquiorra was engulfed an a massive wave of black reiatsu.

'N...No way!' Byakuya whispered as the wave hit them, causing both Shinigami to fall to their knees due to the intensity of the reiatsu.

Zaraki's stared into the growing blackness, unable to find the strength to raise his blade. "What... What is this... feeling?!"

Ulquiorra emerged from the blackness as it began to disperse, revealing his true form. While he retained his black wings, his long white coat was gone, revealing a more defined musculature with his chest bare and Hollow hole, dripping black, blood-like liquid. His waist become covered in something similar to black fur, which also covered his arms and legs. His fingers grew claw-like extensions and his feet become like talons. The irises of his eyes turn yellow while the sclera becomes green. The tear-like marks under his eyes increased in size and turned black. Ulquiorra's mask is now completely gone, as he had taken on the fuller appearance of a bat...

"This feeling... is true despair..."

(West Seireitei)

"Rukia! What's the matter?" Uyru shouted when Rukia suddenly stopped amidst combating the enemy army.

The female shinigami shook her head, "I'm fine..."

"We have almost won this battle Rukia, just a little more..." Chad shouted, punching a Calaveras into a building.

She turned around and sliced another Arrancar that tried to sneak up on her. She swiftly spun back around, 'This feeling...'

Uryu rose an eyebrow as Rukia began to run towards the center of the Seireitei. "Rukia?!"

"I'm sorry... But I have to check something!" She shouted worriedly, confusing both Chad and the Quincy; the former took off after her.

"Uryu! I'm going after her!"Chad shouted, leaving the Quincy to lead the division by himself.

(Somewhere near Central Seireitei)

"Lady Orihime-sama... We shouldn't be here... Lord Kurosaki has commanded it of us!" One of the female Sin Numeros whispered worriedly as the other three looked for any danger approaching them.

"We've looked everywhere for the leader of the Shinigami, we have to go to the human world. We can't let Lord Primera-sama catch us! He's coming!"

All for Sin Numeros were shaking fearfully as they sensed their master steadily approaching.

Orihime frowned. She didn't care. The sound of explosions rang in the distance. Columns of smoke sprouted all over the Seireitei, the heavy rain fall... the lightening... the thunder... the destruction.

"I need to find the Captain..."

Her eyes widened and she swiftly looked north, "That Reiatsu..."

"Lord Cifer!" One of the Sin Numeros exclaimed. "We should leave, now... His reiatsu..."

"We're going." Orihime snapped.

Fearful looks crossed their faces as they watched the human run towards where Ulquiorra was emitting a massive amount of Reiatsu.

'Ulquiorra is strong... The Captain Commander might be over there as well! I'll have to give it a shot!'

"Orihim-sama! Wait!"

(Northern Seireitei)

Chojiro's eyes narrowed as another column of lightening dispersed. "Why... won't you fall?"

Neliel stood in the center of the battlefield; her body smoldering, her skin covered in blood and burnt flesh... pain consumed every fiber of her being. Still she stood, barely able to move any more after receiving the full power of Chojiro's bankai for the sixth time. And all she had to show for it... a broken wrist given to the Vice-Captain of the First Division.

She lowly turned her head to the left, Pesche lay there; missing an arm and the lower half of his body. Fury welled up inside her as the charred flesh, where her number once was, began to burn.

"Ichigo... hurry..."

(First Division Headquarters)

"The success of this war was based on our ability as Espada to defeat five certain Captains before they unleashed Bankai..." Stark whispered, staring up at the amazing site before him.

One hundred yards away... a massive floating orb of water hovered over the First Division's Head Quarters. In the very center of the orb... Halibel remained perfectly still, seemingly able to breath underwater.

Though the feat of creating a floating prison of water was amazing in itself, that wasn't the most shocking,

Kyoraku Shunhei and Ukitake Jyuushiro, both floated lifelessly before the Shark Empress. In the end... He didn't even have to lift a finger.

"That's two down..." Halibel whispered softly as she descended out of her water prison.

"How long will you keep them imprisoned in there?" He asked uncaring.

"However long it takes for the water to erode the very flesh from their bones." She whispered, turning her back to them.

"I wonder if the two of them using bankai would have really made that much of a difference. It didn't look like you had trouble at all."

Halibel glared at him when he glanced at her. Her hair was matted with blood, and a shallow cut crossed the entirety of her stomach. She didn't win without struggle. To be honest with herself, she wasn't sure she could have won if she hadn't caught them off guard with her last attack.

"You finished it quickly enough..." The Segunda whispered.

"We've run out of time... you know that." Halibel replied, raising her right hand and showing her number. "He's coming."

Stark nodded, looking off towards where Ulquiorra's reiatsu was coming from, "He'd better hurry up."

(50 meters above Central 46 Compound)

Gasping, not only for air... but for the the strength to live just a moment long, Byakuya Kuchiki could not stop gurgling and coughing up mouthfuls of blood from the severe internal bleeding.

The claws that were already digging into his throat suddenly tightened even more.

"In your last moments... What is crossing your mind, Captain?" Ulquiorra voice whispered expressionlessly before looking over his shoulder. "What of you?"

Floating fifty Meters above the Seireitei, Ulquiorra hovered; in his right hand Kuchiki Byakuya, whose entire face... entire body... was covered in blood. And behind the Demon Espada... Zaraki Kenpachi, Ulquiorra's tail wrapped tightening around his throat; crushing it more with every passing second. Both had obviously been tortured within an inch of their lives.

The Captain of the Eleventh division, who refused to let go of his blade, closed his eyes as darkness came to him... 'Yachiru...'

(Flashback- Central 46 compound- Seconds after Halibel destroyed west Rukongai)

"Ken-chan! Please take me with you!" The small pink haired shinigami whinned, running after him.

The Captain of the Eleventh Division glared, "Baka! It's going to be dangerous this time. Stay here, keep Kurosaki's sister's company. The three of you will be safe here!"

Yachiru pouted, "Ken-chan! What are you so worried for! Those stupid Hollow are no match for..."

Darkness came to her a second later when Zaraki knocked her out with a soft blow to the back of her neck. He carefully placed her on the ground, 'Sorry kiddo, not this time'

He quickly spun around, "You two..."

Karin Kurosaki and Yuzu Kurosaki, who had watched the entire thing, backed away from the monster of a man.

"Please watch over her.."

(Flashback end)

"Yachiru..." Zaraki whispered, weakly lifting his blade despite knowing he no longer had the strength to even cut the Espada who was choking the life out of him.

Ulquiorra's eyes flashed, "Even on the verge of death you refuse to drop your blade."

*SNAP!*

Byakuya watched helplessly as Ulquiorra snapped Zaraki's neck.

It was a death unfitting a man of Zaraki's caliber.

"And you..." Ulquiorra whispered, turning back towards Byakuya and raising his free hand. "You are just as unwilling to give up as he was."

A black cero instantly formed on his finger tip.

"You will not die an honorable death... no last words will be spoken to your subordinates so that they will make a final stand to defend your honor... No... you will die as pitifully as you should. So much for your pride as a shinigami..."

Unable to use that last of his strength to speak, the Captain of the Sixth division closed his eyes.

'Forgive me... Rukia...'

"Know emptiness as you die alone, Captain, and...vanish in the darkness of my cero..."

All light within miles of the direction that Ulquiorra was facing was consumed by darkness...

(300 Meters above the Seireitei)

The clashing of steel rang out for miles as Aizen and Isshin both displayed an unbelievable mastery of swordsmanship.

Yamamoto, who had stepped back at Isshin's behest, watched the two of them closely; knowing he would be at the mercy of Kyoka Suigetsu if he got any closer.

'Damn you... Aizen...'

Aizen suddenly shot back, holding his chest tightly as blood shot out of the deep gash.

Isshin smirked, "What's the matter, Aizen? It seems as if your slowly losing it. Are you at the end of your rope?"

The ex-captain, who stared down at his chest, smirked. "Yes... It would seem that way. I'm am at the very limit of my Shinigami self... and still my power can not match your own,"

Isshin glared, "Give me back my son!"

Aizen smirked, "You will see him soon enough."

"The hell does that mean?!"

"You've lost Aizen, you won't escape here alive" Yamamoto snapped, appearing behind him, Ryujin Jakka engulfed in flames.

"Do you think because I have reached my limits as a Shinigami that you have won this war?" Aizen closed his eyes, "Tell me, does this look like victory?"

All of a sudden the sky was filled with countless projections; each one displaying the countless battle front in the Seireitei.

Komamura's lifeless body with a gaping hole in the center of his chest

Lisa, Hiyori, and Mashiro 's broken bodies in the Shadow of Ayon's massive form

"My..." Isshin couldn't believe his eyes at the destruction the Arrancar army had caused, "Where... Why haven't the Royal Guard mobilized? Not even they can turn I blind eye to this..."

Momo and Nemu buried under a pile of rubble...

Matsumoto's body bloodied, her Zanpakuto shattered all around her...

Szayel standing in the Twelfth Division HQ surrounded by countless bodies of the kido corps and the Vice-Captain's guarding the HQ

Zaraki's body thrown disrespectfully to the ground, his neck snapped in a horrible way.

Byakuya, half his body disintegrated by the power of Ulquiorra's cero; Rukia had made it, and was crying over her brother's lifeless corpse with Chad looking on sadly.

Yamamoto's eyes flashed with rage as he was once more engulfed in an inferno of flames. "Aizen... I will burn the flesh off your bones..."

Renji, Ikkaku, and Hisagi's battered bodies while Unohana healed them and Hirako combated Sabe.

Tessai's body, which was no longer recognizable from the devastating Kido.

Shunsui and Ukitake floating lifelessly in the water prison while Halibel and Stark looked on...

Projection after projection filled the sky, showing the now completely destroyed Sereitei.

"Now I repeat my previous question, in what way have I lost?"

Isshin's reiatsu erupted in a massive wave as Yamamoto's inferno of flames intensified.

"Such displays will not change a single thing... You, Yamamoto, a weak... decadent old man who is nothing but a shadow of his former self. You have grown soft. Three hundred years ago... could I have breached the Seireitei's boarders? Could I have gotten anywhere near you?"

Aizen turned his gaze, "And Kurosaki Isshin... you're a bigger failure. Your life has bee nothing but disappointment. You lost your position because you fell in love with a human, and then you were too weak to protect her... you couldn't protect your daughters nor could you protect your only son."

Isshin's and Yamamoto's were burning with rage.

The Shinigami smirked, "In every sense of the word... the two of you are failures..."

At once, both snapped and swung their Zanpakuto; releasing such an enormous amount of reiatsu that the space around them began to distort...

"GETSUGA TENSHO!" A one hundred foot wave of blinding white reiatsu

"TAIMATSU!" An inferno of flame the continued to grow without signs of stopping.

Aizen didn't move an inch from both attacks, either of which had to power to kill him instantly, "And now... I will make your pain grow all more... by unleashing one of your own against you."

All of a sudden, the very sky above them ripped apart in the form of Garganta and a towering beam of white light shot of from the torrent of darkness; taking the full force of both devastating attacks.

Yamamot's and Isshin's eyes widened in disbelief at the speed in which it all occurred.

"Is that... "

"Negacion!" Yamamoto shouted as his inferno of flames and Getsuga Tensho erupted in a massive explosion.

Amidst the explosion, a soft spoken, yet powerful, voice echo'd to the two.

"It's good to to see you..."

The smoke from the explosion and the towering beam of light dispersed in an instant.

"Father..."

The Primera, garbed in his immaculate Espada clothes, half his face covered by his hollow mask, his long hair whipping around wildly in the wind... stood before them...

Ichigo's Arrival!

(Author's note)

Here you go! Ichigo arrives! I can't wait to right the next chapter! Now it gets good... Just a few chapters to go before the end!