Everlasting Reflections: The Moon Underwater

Arc II: Dawn of Dreams

Chapter 51: The Chrysalis Stage


"No, Apacci… Aizen betrayed the Hollows and he tried to kill me by his own hands," Harribel told her in a serious tone. "Damn! I am glad you are fine, Harribel-Sama," Mila Rose replied to her while Apacci was utterly speechless after listening to her words. "I am alright only because of him," Harribel replied to them further and they knew that she was talking about none other but Sesshomaru. "Oh!" They responded with a surprise. While they were still in the middle of the conversation, Sesshomaru started to move in the direction of Aizen. Yang left as well after which both Stark and Harribel began to follow them. "Teach that bastard a good lesson," Harribel's Fraccions shouted from behind.

Las Noches (region with the artificial daylight), Hueco Mundo…

Yin was freely walking around in the area filled with the aftermaths of all the battles that had taken place over there recently. However, it seemed from the movement of her eyes and body language that she was looking for something or rather someone. Soon enough her eyes caught an Arrancar who was none other but Rudbornn Chelute, the sole member of the Exequias.

Now Yin didn't waste any moment and confronted him. "Who are you?" Rudbornn asked her. "Can't you see? I am an Arrancar… just like you," she replied. "I can see that girl but don't try to mess with me and tell me what do you want?" He responded to her in a strict tone. "I am here to recruit you for a very important mission, Rudbornn… come with me," she spoke before she turned around and prepared to walk away from there. "You seem powerful but do not get so full of yourself brainless woman, Grow, Arbo..aakk!" Rudbornn muttered to her but was choked the moment he tried to initiate the release of his Resurreccion. Yin's whip was wrapped around his neck and she didn't waste any moment in unleashing the electric current through it. Suddenly Rudbornn began to writhe with the pain and eventually fell on his knees. "I am Yin and I am here to recruit you in the army of the firstborn," She spoke to him upon freeing his neck while staring at him with a confident grin on her lips. "Ah.. ahh… the firstborn?" He asked while panting. "Yes, the first of our kind… Lord Orkos," She replied before walking away from there while Rudbornn followed her as well.

After some time both of them reached close to the tower inside of which Ulquiorra and Ichigo fought against each other. Soon enough they came across Loly, Menoly, and Gantenbainne who were simply looking for a safe place to have some rest. "Beaten… exhausted… and out of options… perhaps the three of you can make good use of a safe shelter isn't it?" Yin said to them while coming from behind. Now Menoly immediately dragged Loly and hide behind a rock while Gantenbainne prepared himself to fight against them. However, before he could have attacked Yin, Rudbornn stopped him. "Rudbornn… what are you doing with this strange girl?" Gantenbainne asked with wonderment. "We are here to recruit all of you to a new team… it is the only beneficial option for you now," He replied to him in a rather sad tone. "Oh! Wha..What do you mean, Rudbornn?" Menoly asked abruptly. "Loly and Menoly… you two were crushed by Yammy isn't it? And you Gantenbainne, you were almost killed by Nnoitra, am I right?" Yin asked as she walked a few steps ahead. "Ye..Yes… but who are you and how do you know about us?" Menoly asked shockingly. "Have some patience girl, you will know about me eventually but for now you should focus on your enemies… Yammy, Nnoitra and some other Espadas have been abducted by the demons of Hell. Soon they will return with more power and crush all of you like insects," Yin answered her after which all the three of them were utterly shocked. "Join our ranks if you wish to survive long enough and take revenge on them," she added further before walking away from there while all of them pondered over her words for a moment and eventually began to follow her.

Location of the battle of Fake Karakura town…

Gin Ichimaru had cleverly disappeared from there and nobody was able to sense his spiritual pressure anywhere close to the area. After his retreat, Urahara, Yoruichi, Isshin, Ichigo, Ulquiorra, Uryu, and Orihime were completely focused on Aizen alone. "I think at least one of us should stay with Orihime," Yoruichi spoke while addressing everyone. "Yes, Aizen can target her because of the unique healing abilities which she possesses," Urahara spoke as well. "I am ready to take this responsibility," Uryu responded to them. After Uryu and Orihime backed off to a safe distance, Urahara, Isshin, Yoruichi, Ichigo, and Ulquiorra stood around that stagnant blast which was constantly releasing energy in an oval formation.

A humanoid shadow appeared inside the oval energy release with the glowing Hogyoku in the middle of its chest. Suddenly the entire energy of the blast revolved around him and then disappeared in the blink of an eye before he landed on the ground right between Urahara and Isshin. Everyone present there was utterly shocked to witness his speed but they didn't allow it to overwhelm their senses. On the other hand, Aizen seemed to be completely covered in the white cloth which was actually the white material similar to the mask of the Hollows. His eyes were covered with violet crystals while his Zanpakuto seemed to become a part of his body. After a few moments of pause, Aizen and Urahara began a dialogue and then the former explained the later about how he managed to survive and moreover adopt an even more powerful form despite being affected by the deadly Kido attack. Now Aizen stared at everyone present there and then he spoke to Ulquiorra, "What is this form, Ulquiorra? It seems to be a step further even from Arrancar Resurreccion… I am amused to see it."

"This is Segunda Etapa and yes, it is indeed what you have just said… Aizen," He replied to him in his usual emotionless tone. "Then I wonder if I need to take care while crossing swords with you, Ulquiorra," the Shinigami in Chrysalis Form spoke in a slightly playful tone.

Suddenly Isshin swung his sword on Aizen from behind while Urahara did the same from the front. Aizen stopped Isshin's sword with his foot while simultaneously blocking Urahara's attack with his sword. The next moment, Aizen gave a powerful push to both of them which dragged them back in opposite directions. However, they immediately used energy chains and held Aizen in the middle with his wrist and ankle stretched towards them in the air. Now before he could have freed himself, Yoruichi came from the top and swiftly hit his back with an immensely powerful punch that caused a powerful blast. "Haaaaaaaaaaaaa…" she roared loudly as she continued to shower similar armored punches on his back vigorously. Her spiritual pressure was skyrocketing and her punches were vibrating the entire land while the dense clouds of dust and smoke had filled the surroundings.

"Oh… she is capable of inflicting this much damage even without her Zanpakuto," Ulquiorra mumbled to himself while carefully observing Yoruichi. After some time she halted the barrage of punches while the smoke and dust clouds got dissipated in time as well. Aizen was lying on his belly with his entire torso got severely cracked while she was sitting on his back. "Well… did that work?" She murmured upon sensing that he had fallen motionless while his spiritual pressure was also going down.

"Back off… YORUICHI-SAN!" Urahara shouted abruptly in a loud voice upon sensing a sudden rise in Aizen's spiritual pressure. Now before she could have jumped off of him a powerful blast of Aizen's monstrous spiritual pressure blew her away. Urahara immediately reached close to her and caught her into his arms before she could have hit the ground. She seemed to have taken a serious amount of damage since her armor from both of her legs and arms was severely damaged while her clothes were almost completely blown away by the force of that blast. Urahara noticed that she was unconscious and some of her wounds were quite deep hence he immediately rushed towards Orihime without wasting any moment. He made her lie down on the ground and then covered her naked body with his coat while Orihime immediately summoned her powers in order to treat her wounds.

On the other hand, Aizen had got up by now and an immense amount of spiritual pressure was radiating from his entire being. Even though his torso was cracked from several places yet it seemed that he was in the perfect state to continue the battle.


To be continued…