First off, I just wanna give special thanks to RG-Guast, erasnpai946, gorguts5, and "Amy", for their feedback on the previous update...


TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW

Chapter LXXV:
"Darkness Rising, Part 2"

Soul Society, the Ukitake Estate

Stark hurriedly made his way across the courtyard of the Ukitake family home with uncommon speed, at least when it came to the normally lethargic Arrancar. Furthermore, his usual expression- a combo of weariness and mild annoyance was now replaced with one that belayed a sharp focus.

Casting his gaze towards the main entrance, he watched as the reinforced doors were flung open!

"Hello?!" Stark called out. "Can anybody hear me?!"

Passing under the massive arch front gateway, the tall Arrancar- clad in the typically crumpled white Las Noches uniform that he'd grown so accustomed to- narrowed his eyes and peered down the way, to the numerous uncanny dark figures that appeared to be amassing at the front of his adopted home.

He arched a dark brow as he regarded them...

It was strange, he'd heard of these things: humanoid figures, comprised of darkness- darkness. It was if they were made of shadow, such that no measure of light neither passed through or reflect off them, and yet they clearly also had some physical aspect as well- as he could still discern some depth in them. But now, as he looked at them, the Espada could see that they appeared to be clad in armor brandishing a wide array of weapons- these too, seemingly composed of the same darkness..

Just then, as he was in the middle of mulling over his observations, there was a flash of energy and a flurry of movement- that Stark recognized as a Sonido- heralding the arrival a familiar figure. The tall male Arrancar instantly recognized the smaller female that appeared before him.

"Stark." She stated simply, while looking intently to him.

"Lillynette." He calmly acknowledged with no more than a nod.

This time, it was the attackers' turn to look on...

There was a sudden out-rush of reiki, the invaders staggering back as the air become heavy, followed by a blinding flash of energy. And then, as before, Stark once more stood before them on the front steps of the entryway. But now, the Primera was fully realized in his Resurreccion!

The tall brown-haired Espada's left eye was covered by what resembled a medical eye-patch, except that a dark void was visible through it- similar to the 'eye' of Lillynette's mask fragment. His usual Las Noches uniform was also replaced with a new ensemble which was comprised of a flowing coat/cape hybrid, worn over a tight military-style tunic and tight black pants and boots. A silvery-gray fur covered the forearms, collar, and lower half of the main article of clothing, while forming sort of belt held by a large buckle in the front, and finally the lengths of his boots.

Brandishing a large pistol-like firearm in each hand, Stark cast his weary gaze upon his multitudinous shadowy attackers now encircling him. The sunlight glinted off of the metal of his twin handguns as he took a deep breath, then exhaled. "Hmm... Better get this over with."

With that simple statement uttered, just five words, he raised up his pair of ornately adorned black and silver handguns, and- taking a slow deep breath and steadying himself- he opened fire!

The sound of rapid-fire gun-shots sounded off, echoing across the area!

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Shinigami Academy, Female Dorms...

Mila Rose and Kyoko looked out of the window of the latter's quarters, spotting the former's Master, the Tercera Espada Tia Halibell, sailing across the grounds.

The tall, bronzed, and buxom Arrancar, with her shining gold locks and her bright green eyes, moved gracefully across the impromptu battlefield. Throughout this, she flitted from spot to spot, only pausing to fire off controlled Ceros- wiping out numerous 'shadows' in the process!

"Mila," the female Shinigami started. "What's happening?"

There were multiple young female Soul Reapers, gathered around the them, near the window, all of them looking on uneasily towards the imposing lady Arrancar...

It was all still so strange to to the woman, even now, to think that these Shinigami would actually be looking to her- a Hollow, of all things- for reassurances. A scant three years ago, they would have been rightfully afraid of her. And yet, she and her sisters, and their Mistress were their protectors...

The dusky-skinned woman looked to her pretty blue-eyed mate. "I don't know," she started, offering a small smile. "But without even asking, I can tell that something is very badly wrong."

"Kyoko..." The tall muscular female Arrancar started, her brown eyes gazing into the smaller woman's bright blue ones. "I have to get out there and try to figure out what's going on." She continued, pausing to place of gentle kiss on her soft pink lips, before retrieving her sword. "In the mean time, I need you to stay here- where it's safest- and keep an eye on things while I'm gone."

The blonde-haired woman didn't respond at first, conflicted over the idea of being separated from the person she'd come to care so much for in the middle of crisis, but relented. "Alright, if you really think that's for the best, then I'll stay behind... and wait for you to come back."

The muscular brunette similarly recognized the implications in the other woman's tone and expression, and responded in-kind with a smile of her own. "Don't worry," Mila assured the pretty blonde, even as she slid the window open. "I won't keep you waiting long."

The blonde smiled. "You'd better not," she started. "I'll never forgive you if you get yourself killed!"

Meanwhile, downstairs, the other female cadets looking on as Yoko Watase of the Eleventh Division appeared, with her sword in hand, and moved to bar the entrance...

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Huecco Mundo...

Onigiri rushed into the fray, a wild look in this eyes, the oni-horned crimson-haired man thrusting the blade of one of his many swords into the body of the phantom standing in his way, before withdrawing the blade, "killing" it in the process of cutting down another attacker!

The next thing he knew, he heard a cry for help!

With that, he threw the sword at another enemy- taking him down with lethal efficiency- and in the process, saving a terrified Shinigami officer it had been baring down upon.

The Arrancar then drew another one of his multiple katanas and moved to engage further adversaries circling around him. Their blades, composed of the very same darkness as themselves, crashed against his own blade, resulting in him shoulder checking his foe and swiftly thrusting the curving blade of the weapon through the midsection of the enemy- bloodlessly cleaving him asunder!

The crimson-haired Arrancar grit his teeth, pulling the blade out of the body and flawlessly moving on to cut down more and more of them as the insane flurry of blades continued.

"What manner of men are these?" He asked aloud. "Warriors that don't bleed when wounded...? No, these aren't any sort of person, just some twisted form of simulacrum."

Soon, after he'd managed to fell almost two dozen of them, he was finally out of swords- all of the sheaths held in place by his red sash were now empty- his blue eyes lit up and he crackled with reiki, as he at last realized the he had no other choice to play his trump card.

In the process of him focusing his frankly downright monstrous reiki, all eight of his swords flew into the air, forming a sort of deadly pinwheel that began to slowly spin around him.

Advancing, he sent the swords out, taking down another eight of the shadow fighters simultaneously!

"So, that's the real extent of your Chanbara Mode?" Lisa Yadomaru asked amidst the chaos with a sly smile, a twinge running through the muscles of her inner thighs, all the while as her sharp dull blueish-gray eyes finally met with his contrasting bright icy blue ones.

Looking to her, he smiled. "Well, my dear lady, now that you've finally seen it," he started, all the while cutting down more enemies. "What do you think of it, of my powers?"

"I have to say," the bespectacled Vizard started, while cutting down one of their attackers with ease as the ruckus continued unfolding around them. "That after seeing the bloody dance of your blades," Lisa continued with a wild grin, all while dodging the sickle and chain of an enemy.

"That you've displayed a degree of mastery," the dark-haired woman continued, pausing only briefly to lick the dark blood-like substance from the blade of her sword. "That... to behold it with my own eyes... it would make even the most battled-hardened and seasoned woman... wet!"

Onigiri landed before her. "Good lord, woman," he started with a smile. "You really are insatiable!"

Before he could offer any further comment, or even an appropriate rejoinder, a fresh wave of shadows moved in on their position, forcing both of them to once more continue the fight for their lives.

At the same time as the two Lieutenants were busy dealing with their own situation, the other members of the Fourteenth were also similarly fully engaged in the fight against the ongoing Shadow invasion of their Division- if not that of Huecco Mundo as a whole!

Being more or less ambidextrous, Lisa was quick to grab a 'discarded' katana laying in the sand- one which had been dropped by a recently fallen Shinigami- and let loose on their attackers, duel wielding the two swords in order to cut down yet even more of their attackers.

The deadlock of the battle was quickly becoming tedious for the seasoned fighter...

"Enough!" The female Lieutenant exclaimed, blocking and countering an attack with her own.

"Lieutenants, look out!" Apacci called out, appearing on the scene at the same time as she was in the middle of gathering her reiki and forming a deep red Cero at the tip of the horn of her mask fragment, which she swiftly fired off- wiping out numerous shadows!

Both Onigiri and Apacci looked on as Lisa braced herself, then stabbing the blade tip of the katana she'd picked up into the sand, before then bringing up her free hand to her face and generating a flash of reiki, forming her distinctive Mask on her face.

Both Apacci and Onigiri looked on, at the sight the black-robed woman, her face now hidden behind her aesthetically minimalist mask with the lines of its "+" shape set within it.

"Oh wow... It's been a while since I saw her do that!" The female Fraccion commented.

"Lieutenant Yadomaru!" Onigiri called out, approaching the woman. "I really must say," he continued with a small smile, his hand clapping down upon her dainty shoulder as their eyes met. "Looking at you right now... well, I can't think of a time that I've ever seen you look quite so ravishing."

"Look!" A voice, from someone nearby, called out, as a deep red point of light suddenly became visible amidst the darkness in the distant skyline of the eternal night...

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

The Living Realm, Karakura City...

Orihime swiftly cast her gaze to the front door of the apartment, to face the source of the ever-growing intensity of the conflict presently overtaking the city at multiple locations.

When it had first begun, she'd been in the kitchen doing prep work for dinner- chopping carrots into slices and cutting up a potato. She'd sighed, as she felt like she'd been badgered into using specifically boring ingredients by Ulquiorra, simply because he didn't like the more fun thing's she enjoyed using in her cooking, the same things- she'd recalled thoughtfully- that Rangiku-san and Tessai-san enjoyed.

At any rate, the curvy redhead had been in the midst of preparing the upcoming dinner, when she felt a sudden unnerving sensation... Her shocked reaction to this sensation wasn't unlike the feeling of that of a person brushing a fingertip up her spin, or... well, if she were perfectly honest, it was similar to the sensation of Ulquiorra's breath against her neck as they made love!

All of that being said, she was picking up on some downright 'bad vibes' from all directions...

Then, her vision was overtaken by a sudden flash of light, and for an instant, the young woman was stricken by an overbearing sharp pain- like someone had taken an ice-pick to her brain! The next thing she knew, Orihime's hands were on the sides of her head... Then, without her even having to call out for them, her six fairies were summoned from her Shun Shun Rikka.

"Orihime, what's going?" Shun'o had asked her, a look of confusion on the little blonde fairy as he and the others appeared before her in a quick flash of movement and light.

"I-" She stuttered, a similarly confused look on her face. "I'm not sure... I didn't even call on you."

The six small creatures all exchanged glances between them, varying looks of bewilderment on the five and a half visible face, the latter of the group looking more annoyed than anything.

"Wait," Tsubaki interjected, uncharacteristically talkative. "Didn't this happen before, ya' know, back when she had you three restore that big-boobed woman's arm?" He asked crassly.

The 'three' in question- Shun'o, Ayame, and Lilly- all blushed initially, followed by the first of the trio giving a look of realization. "He's right, we were summoned without word, back then." The ambiguous fairy stated (for no one was really quite sure of their gender). "But why now?"

"I think I know a reason why." Ulquiorra started in a matter-of-fact tone, appearing at the entrance of the kitchen, still in his Gigai and with Murcielago gripped in his hand, before he swiftly made his way towards Orihime. "This entire city is under siege- an assault, from the same creatures that manifested within it during the attack carried out by the Brethren."

"Orihime." He spoke pointedly, stopping to him hook his arm around her and draw the young woman close to him, then planting a passionate kiss on her lip- all while her fairies looked on!- before drawing back to look into her eyes with his penetrating green gaze. "Are you alright?"

Orihime could tell that his blood was up, and knew from personal experience that Arrancar tended to resort to their base nature when faced with overwhelming threat- ie, something completely unknown to them. And so, again from personal experience, she knew the Espada well enough to tell with just a look that that the dark-haired Arrancar was on edge, but that he was managing to wrangle it in.

She nodded dumbly, before finding and composing herself. "Then you can feel it too?" Orihime asked, earning a nod from the pale-skinned man. "Good, then we have to get out there, and..." The young lady paused, running a hand through his dark locks. "We have to get out there and do something."

"On that much, you and I are in agreement." He replied, taking her hand. "For now, we have to-"

He was interrupted by the sound of some kind of commotion, just outside of the apartment, followed in short order by the audible clamor of the door flying open!

Both the raven-haired Arrancar and the redheaded Human turned, right in time to witness as a familiar figure appeared in the entryway. "Are you two okay?" Tatsuki called out, just in time as Uryu and Chad filtered into the residence, the Quincy and the young man flanking as the trio entered

Ulquiorra took note of the sheathed sword in the dark-haired young woman's left hand- knowing that this wasn't just some wall-hanger. "A weapon, Arisawa-san?"

She smirked and nodded. "You bet!"

Looking between them, from Ulquiorra to others, Orihime gave a resolute look. "I don't know about the rest of you guys," she began calmly. "But I have no intention of abandoning our finches!"

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Division Four, Medical Center...

"It sounds like a war zone out there..." Cyan Sungsun commented.

Nearby, Hanataro Yamada nodded. "Yeah, I know what you mean..." The young dark-haired Shinigami commented, looking towards the source of the commotion. "Thing's are getting bad out there."

The slight demur Arrancar looked toward the young man, exchanging a worried look between the two of them as the madness continued unfolding. "This is your realm, and more than mine, it's your people out there, facing all the danger- fighting, and risking their lives." She recounted.

"You think I don't know that?!" Hanataro fired back, his tone both cold and also eerily calm as he spoke to her. "I have firsthand experience," the young man continued. "I've lived through an invasion, and survived it- the same invasion that you survived."

"And it's because of that experience, that I know I can do the most good here," he explained to the female Arrancar. "Right now, they don't need more warriors... I'm a medic and a healer, and that means my abilities are best put use by ensuring that the operations of this facility continue running smoothly, and by efficiently overseeing the treatment of the wounded that we'll doubtlessly receive."

Sungsun smirked, then chuckled, before her hands ended up on her hips. "Since I first started hanging out around this place, I could tell there was something about you." She stated. "I just don't know... if it's the fact that you just keep continuing on in spite of everything fate throws at you, or the incongruity between how young you are and how much you've accomplished, or something else entirely."

Hanataro gave an almost bashful look as she went on. "And while your a bit too young for my tastes, I can certainly appreciate whatever it is that Lillynette finds attractive about you."

At the same time as the young man blushed at the slender woman's assertion, any further conversation on the matter was interrupted by the abrupt arrival of Isane, the tall Silver-haired Lieutenant sporting a decidedly scattered expression as she looked between the two of them. "Officer Hanataro."

"Lieutenant Kotetsu!" He acknowledged smartly, with a salute. "How can I be of service?"

The female Shinigami shook her head. "Please, right now, there's simply just no time to for us to stand on ceremony at the moment." Isane proclaimed. "Hanataro, as of this moment, you are now the official acting head of this medical center." She continued, catching her breath. "You must see to it that events play out without incident, as you oversee the deployment of the triage."

"O- Of course!" Hanataro replied without reservation. "Miss Sungsun..." He continued.

Unprompted, Sungsun spoke up. "Don't worry," the sleek and elegant female replied. "Upon my honor, as an Arrancar, a Certified Medic, and as a Fraccion of Lady Halibell, none of these shadowy invaders will set foot within the grounds of this medical facility- I'll make sure of that!"

At the same time, another Shinigami appeared, an urgent look on his face. "Lieutenant, we have reports that the enemy forces are on the move once more- and that a portion of them are headed this way!"

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

A number of the Shadow Warriors were vaporized by a red Cero, the white sands of Huecco Mundo flying into the air in the wake of the impact of the blast!

Then, Captain Nelliel-Tu Obberschank appeared, resplendent in her black robes and white Captain's haori, and holding her drawn Zanpakuto "Chamois" in hand. "Sorry I'm late!" She declared coolly to the pair, as she moved in to take down more of the darkened attackers!

"Not like that's any excuse." She amended. "On my return, I was held up for a while by more these shadow creatures, gathered the main entrance of the Division." The mint green-haired woman began as she surveyed the area. "Lieutenants, I need Intel... Quickly, what's happening- what's our status?"

Both the red-haired Arrancar and the dark-haired Vizard looked to their commander, a seeming look of relief of their respective faces at seeing the Captain they'd served under and come to know.

"These things, they're everywhere," Lisa began in her distorted voice. "It's almost, as if, as fast as we can take some of them down, just as many of them step forward to take their place."

"She's right." Onigiri spoke up. "These... things, these creatures, whatever the hell they are, they're totally unstoppable- they don't die, not like other enemies, they just keep coming without interruption, like water pouring into a confluence- they're relentless!"

The Captain nodded. "Indeed." She replied. "From what little I've been able to gather, these creatures are everywhere- like swarms of hornets- so I can only imagine how everyone else is fairing."

"We need to establish contact with Grimmjow and the other Unaligned, as soon as possible!" Nelliel went on to add, in her usual calm and collected tone, part of what continued to make her such a good leader in the eyes of those who had served and now served under her.

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Meanwhile, back in the Soul Realm...

"Stark!" Jushiro called out to the Primera as he appeared. "And, it would seem, Lilly-san as well." He added, with a small smile, noting the changed appearance of the Espada.

Before he could muster a response, both the Shinigami Captain and the Unsealed Espada (or Espadas, depending on how someone defined them) were swiftly alerted by the sound a grand commotion, which was located within the boundaries of the former's expansive family estate.

"Kiyoshiro!" Both men- the swordsman and gunman- exclaimed in unison, as they rushed inside.

The sight they they were met with, as they rushed around the side of the grand home, towards the rear courtyard, was that of several of the 'Shadows' being expelled in and outpouring of reiki!

"What power!" Stark commented, a look of shock on his face.

The source of this great massive rush of spiritual pressure and energy was none other that of a woman, dressed in a simple brownish-gray kimono and white apron. The tresses of her long dark "princess cut" framed her fair skin and dark brown eyes. Gripped in her right hand, was the simple wooden hilt of an outwardly unremarkable tantō, with the palm of her left hand braced against her right...

And yet, from this seeming run-of-the-mill "dagger", flowed a shocking amount of power, enough to destroy an entire cadre of enemy attackers!

Her long flowing dark hair fluttered in her wake even as the Phantom invaders were scattered in her wake, her straw sandals somehow lost in the confusion and leaving her white tabi-clad feet upon the wooden deck of the rear patio, as her adversaries fell to the ground before her...

"Mitsuki!" Jushiro called out. "Speak to me, are you alright?"

The woman didn't respond at first, her breath heavy. And then, after a moment, she turned her eyes towards them as the two males approached her. "Lord Ukitake..." The stoic woman began as the two men gathered around her. "Kiyoshiro, the young lord, he is..." She trailed off, going slack

As Stark turned away to gun down a handful of stragglers, Jushiro looked to the woman, capturing her in his arms as she fell forward- fatigue overcoming her in the moment. "My son," the white-haired man started cautiously, all the while as he looked into her eyes. "Is he safe?"

Mitsuki nodded. "When you assigned me to Lady Ukitake and your son, I swore- on my life- that I would ensure that they were defended..." The female Soul replied. "I instructed the rest of the staff to fall back, with him in their care, into the shielded inner sanctum of your esteemed family's home..."

The Captain of the Thirteenth took a moment to process the statement, then nodded. "Mitsuki," he began warmly. "You've done everything you promised... and so much more."

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Division Six HQ...

At the same time as Renji drew his Zanpakuto Zabimaru, Arachne wasted little time as she unsheathed her own Soul Sword- which he knew as Dokuga, aka "Venom's Fang!"

In the process, the tattooed Soul Reaper looked on as the blade of his partner's Zanpakuto radiated an unearthly energy that crimson-haired knew all too well. Except, what was new to him was the sensation of the manner in which the raven-haired woman's power emanated from the weapon.

In spite of the fact that they had been in an intimate relationship, there was still so much that he didn't know about the very instrument that so perfectly reflected the duality of her nature as a being that was both a cold and foreboding being, while also a sentient creature capable smiling and laughing!

The weapon, with its strange curved handle- wrapped in purple binding with a matching tassel at the hilt- and its western-style hand guard-guard, except for its strange over-long blade that was a hybrid of a Falchion and a Scimitar, exploded with energy as she exclaimed "Entrampar!"

Entrap...

That one word, spoken in that instance, was enough to unleash the fury of her fearsome power of her Zanpakuto, resulted in the deployment of a multitude of razor-thin threads that instantly carved into the shadowy phantoms that were attacking them- which, in the process, formed a 'web' that wiped out all of the enemies that had previously stood before them in their path.

"Arachne," Renji spoke up with a smile, gaining her attention. "I haven't seen that sort of power from you since the first time we first met back in Huecco Mundo!"

Arachne blushed, and appeared to be about to reply, when Kimura called out as another wave of the Shadows became visible on the fringes of the Sixth. "Lieutenant!"

Just then, as the trio turned towards their mutual adversaries, the Shadows that had begun to encircle them were suddenly carved into pieces by a dazzling downpour of razor-sharp Sakura petals!

This, in turn, was the herald to the arrival of none other then Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, resplendent in his fine robes and his long dark hair! Both the female Arrancar and two Shinigami looked on in awe as the Commanding Officer and nobleman touched down gracefully within the grounds of the Sixth in a whirlwind of petals, his Zanpakuto in hand as the sunlight reflected off of the blade...

"Lieutenant Abarai," he started coolly, looking to Renji. "And, Madam." The dark-haired man added, his tone steady, as he offered a concise and polite nod of acknowledgment to Arachne.

"Captain." She replied simply, with a polite nod of her own.

"Lieutenant," he resumed. "Tell me, what is the status of my Division?"

"Look out!" A voice called out.

Byakuya merely calmly looked over to the side, along with Renji and Arachne, right in time as another wave of the Shadows warriors appeared due to east of where they stood.

One of them lunged forward, seemingly with the intent of taking down the Captain, only for the figure to be blasted out of the air, prompting all eyes to turn towards the source of the earlier voice.

"Omigod!" Kimura stood, eyes wide and mouth agape, both hands clasped to the weapon he'd been tossed so tight that his knuckles were white. "Captain Kuchiki! Sir, I mean- I just reacted and-"

"Officer Kimura." The Kuchiki noble entreated the other man, holding his hand up. "Do not forget your training as a member of the Sixth." He went on calmly. "Now, with all that being said, it would appear that we have all had quite the day... And, that it is far from over."

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Division Twelve HQ...

Amidst all of the chaos going on, Szayel Grantz reached the entrance to the Twelfth, not wasting any time as he made his way inside. The Captain didn't even bother with even perfunctory communication with his Officers and underlings as he passed by them in a rush of movement.

The pink-haired Arrancar stepped into the elevator, where he inserted a short round key into a circular keyhole and turned it, prompting a small panel to slide open, thus revealing a button that flashed on and off with a red light. "This is Captain Szayel Grantz," he started, pulling the glove from his right hand.

"Override safety protocols, and enact procedure 'Octavio-zero-zero-one'." The pink-haired Arrancar continued, pressing his hand to the panel. "Authorization: Alpha, one, zero, Theta, one, one, Omicron, zero, Lambda, one." Szayel spoke as the elevator began moving.

The metal doors smoothly opened up to a secret floor of the Division- effectively, sandwiched between two of the floors officially listed- where they stored and worked on top-secret technology.

Stepping into the long white corridor, the golden-eyed Espada made a straight b-line towards the door that concealed the particular piece of technology that he was looking for. He adjusted his glasses as the door in questioned opened for him, revealing (a heavily modified version) of the very machine that had caused him to experience 'visions'- depicting alternate versions of the lives and worlds he occupied...

Szayel hesitated for just a moment, then moved in and reached out to a large switch, throwing it in a quick fluid motion, thus firing up the systems and bringing them to life.

Around him, the entire room 'hummed' with an uncanny power. Turning a dial, the line on the nearby monitor began wobbling- distorting like sound waves on an oscilloscope.

"This, this is it..." The Arrancar started. "Time to put my theory into practice."

It wasn't long before a strange otherworldly resonance was being increasingly emitted outwards by the massive device- until it at last reached the point that Szayel had to cover his ears!

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Elsewhere...

Outside of the Twelfth Division, something akin to a shock-wave was felt by everyone, all across the Soul Realm. This 'somethings', this event that would, in the near immediate future, be discovered was further experienced- in all accounts- to the same extent, in all three realms!

And so it was, in that moment- in that instant in time- that the very battle that everyone was presently engaged in, came to a very sudden and very abrupt stop!

But it wasn't just a matter of the combat stopping, rather that their shadowy phantom-like adversaries had actually quite literally come to a full and complete stop... And then, they vanished!

Just like that, in the blink of an eye, they were all gone!

(- End of Chapter LXXIV... -)