Everlasting Reflections: The Moon Underwater
Arc I: Genesis
Chapter 34: Bonds against Inferno
"Then allow me to deepen his eternal slumber, Bankai, Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Korogi," Tosen uttered as he released his Bankai that engulfed the entire Kurohitsugi structure upon taking the form of a black colored dome of the void.
"If he somehow escaped the Bankai of Tosen than we will stop him using ours," Komamura spoke to Mayuri in a serious tone. "Ha Ha Ha… indeed Captain Komamura but I doubt that if he would be able to even blink let alone breaking free from this pressure," Kurotsuchi replied him in a playful manner. After several minutes, when all the three Captains were almost assured of Sesshomaru's death, suddenly Tosen noticed that the gigantic Kurohitsugi structure had started to get cracked with light coming from inside.
"That's impossible! How can he still possess this much strength?" Tosen mumbled shockingly upon sensing the skyrocketing spiritual pressure as the Kurohitsugi structure had started to crumble down while his Bankai structure was shaking heavily. Soon enough an immense explosion of overwhelming demonic energy destroyed the entire Kurohitsugi structure as well as the dome of Tosen's Bankai while he got blown far away from there and fell unconscious.
The next moment, Sesshomaru appeared in the form of a gigantic silvery-white dog while Genryusai Yamamoto had arrived there as well. "Bankai, Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo!" Kurotsuchi uttered while staring at Sesshomaru. "Bankai! Kokujo Tengen Myo-oh!" Komamura spoke loudly. Both the Captains couldn't help but abruptly unleashed their respective Bankais upon sensing the overwhelming power of Sesshomaru while Genryusai Yamamoto was once again prepared with his Shikai to deal with him.
On the other hand, Urahara and Yoruichi were also shocked to witness the giant and fearsome form of Sesshomaru from a far distance and decided to reach there as soon as possible upon noticing that Komamura's and Kurotsuchi's giant Bankai creatures were about to clash with Sesshomaru.
Suddenly a terrifying and powerful explosion occurred when the gigantic Dog Demon clashed with Komamura's and Kurotsuchi's giant Bankai creatures. That explosion not only shook the entire Soul Society with the tremors but also generated powerful shockwaves and bolts of spirit energy while the entire place got filled with smoke and dust clouds. Soon enough it got cleared that both the Bankai creatures were defeated and disappeared following the explosion while Captain Komamura was lying unconsciousness on the ground. Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi, on the other hand, managed to escape from there after the destruction of his Bankai.
Now only two of them had left standing over there for the final showdown i.e. Sesshomaru and Genryusai. The giant Daiyokai was quite injured and his body was releasing unusual bolts of Demonic energy which wasn't a good symptom. On the other hand, Genryusai was all set to destroy Sesshomaru with his Shikai, the wound at the right side of his belly had also stopped bleeding. At first, Sesshomaru barked at the old Shinigami and then both of them rushed towards each other. Sesshomaru tried to crush him under his huge claw while Genryusai dodged it, jumped in the air and inflicted a vertical cut on his left shoulder but the produced flames got extinguished by the release of demonic energy from Dog Demon's body. Without wasting any moment, Head Captain once again swung his Zanpakuto on him but this time Sesshomaru blocked it with his huge nails and now old Shinigami began to have a hard time in pushing his claw away.
Suddenly the ground beneath Genryusai began to crack due to the force by which Sesshomaru was pressing him from the top. Soon enough the ground ruptured and the Head Captain fell down in the sewers while Sesshomaru also got misbalanced due to damaged base. "Taimatsu," Genryusai Yamamoto's voice echoed as he swung his sword while falling down, setting the ground above him on fire. Sesshomaru had already weakened to a significant extent and after getting caught in the flames he couldn't maintain his demon form and eventually reverted back into his human form.
A comparatively large area got destroyed in their battle with several buildings and barracks crumbled to the rubble. The ground was severely damaged while the surrounding area was filled with flames and miasma while at some places weren't even visible due to excessive dust and smoke. Sesshomaru's wound on his chest seemed to be slightly open and he was struggling in getting back to his feet while Genryusai had already returned from the underground and now he was slowly walking towards the Daiyokai in order to finish him off. "It seems I have to unleash an even more destructive technique of my Shikai in order to finish you off," the old Shinigami uttered in a serious tone.
"Ennetsu Jigoku," Genryusai spoke as he stabbed the ground with his Zanpakuto and the next moment a spark of liquid fire branches off in intricate circle pattern formations and created seven immense pillars of flame, which surround the area. The scorching heat by those flames scattered Sesshomaru's miasma in no time but before the old Shinigami could have done anything else, Urahara arrived there and stood right in front of Sesshomaru with his Shikai unleashed, he requested, "Please, stop Head Captain!"
"Step aside, Kisuke Urahara… or prepare yourself to share the same fate as this demon," Genryusai said to Urahara as he raised his spiritual pressure to a dangerous level and summoned immense flames around his blade in order to direct them on Sesshomaru. "I am afraid I can't, Blood Mist Shield!" Urahara replied and the next moment he used a shield technique of his Shikai. "Do you think this shield will last in front of Ryujin Jakka's flames?" Genryusai spoke while unhesitatingly shooting the flames towards him in the form of a violent surge.
Suddenly a wave of spirit energy combined with electric energy collided with that surge of fire and slowed it down to a significant extent while another wave of tiny petal-blades reduced its power even further and ultimately Urahara's Blood Mist Shield managed to block it.
"Kuchiki-san, Yoruichi-san!" Urahara spoke with slight amazement while Sesshomaru also turned his attention towards them with a surprised look on his face. Genryusai, on the other hand, stared at them in a serious manner as his Ennetsu Jigoku technique was slowly taking a deadly form.
"Don't forget that you two are currently nothing more than the infiltrators in the Soul Society and you will join their position if you didn't stop here, Captain of Squad 6, Byakuya Kuchiki," Genryusai said to all the three of them in a strict tone.
"I have no plans of going against the Soul Society but I can't stand or partake in the acts influenced by grave misjudgments, especially when the Gotei 13 intends to execute someone unreasonably who has been a great help to the Seireitei, and I hope both Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihoin are here only to ensure the same thing," Byakuya said to Head Captain. "If all of you are here to block my path then I have no choice but…" Genryusai spoke to all the three of them but he was interrupted before he could have completed his statement.
"Can we also join the discussion, Yamaji?" Kyoraku said as he arrived there along with Ukitake. "Forgive us for interrupting you like this, Master Genryusai," Ukitake spoke to Genryusai as well.
"What are you two doing here?" Genryusai asked them. "Yamaji, we think that there is no reason for us to battle against Sesshomaru," Kyoraku said to him. "He didn't come here to harm the Soul Society in the first place; in fact, he helped us in exterminating those Hollows," Ukitake said while backing Kyoraku. "None of you understands that he is the harbinger of doom for the entire Soul Society," Genryusai said to all of them in a slightly irritated manner.
"It's not like we don't know anything, Head Captain. I have done my homework after infiltrating in the Department of Research & Development and Kuchiki Family Manor," Urahara replied to him with a smile. "We have also studied all ancient documents about Yokais and yet we believe that we shouldn't kill him," Ukitake said from his as well as from Kyoraku's side. "There is so much more which is not on records, the Hollows attacked the Soul Society only when this demon visited the Hueco Mundo, this is no coincidence," Head Captain spoke to all of them.
None of them could have said anything because they knew that Genryusai Yamamoto was right while the next moment, Ennetsu Jigoku reached its final phase and started to destroy everything in the area in which those seven pillars of fire were surrounding. "I am going to stay here and watch this demon getting incinerated by the flames of my Ryujin Jakka. However, it is up to your choice, whether you all wish to back off or join this demon in the afterlife," Genryusai Yamamoto spoke to all of them in a strict tone.
To be continued…