Author Notes: The first half of the chapter is about Ichigo learning that his powers were essentially a lie and the second half focuses on Tessai's futile fight with Hachi's successor. His Zanpakuto being primarily Kidō Corps based explains why he never participated in the big fights as he's mainly there to enforce the rigidity of the organization.
The Secret Hadō being secret to the public Kidō is very obvious from the fight, they're not as practical to use and they cost a lot of power and lifeforce if you're not a monster like Ichibē in combat. It ends similarly to how Yamamoto's fight with the Quincy ended as a decoy was used to force him to go all out before he's unceremoniously killed off by the genuine articles. More conspiracies follow as Yoruichi and Kisuke might be joining their comrade in the Great Beyond.
Chapter 19: The Blade Isn't Me
"What about you being my Hollow-," Ichigo asked for a glimmer of hope before Tengagetsu dashed it with his next words.
"I was playing the role for you to be built up as an assassin for the wishes of the Shiba clan.," said the doppelgänger.
"Huh?"
"I was a parasite from your ancestors hitching a ride in White. One that suppressed your true nature of your Hollow and Soul Reapers powers from birth. There was never any love between us. It was always the old man that was honest about that, even if he had to lie as well.," said the Zanpakuto.
Ichigo stared in wide-eyed confusion.
Tengagetsu underwent the Bankai phrase that Ichigo had often spoken about and launched his Deadly Darts technique, which was firing a Getsuga Tenshō onto the Dio Hueco. Additionally, he was utilizing a huge rotating drill, a large pair of crescent boomerangs, a huge claymore made of blood, a huge maiden made of tornadoes, a salamander made of combustive flames, a large white sphere that was causing intense pressure on the environment, a wave of big musical note projectiles, a huge blade emerging from the shadows of the pillar, a translucent ,massive sword plunging downwards, a large blade that was simultaneously tangible/intangible, a large katana of light, a sword made of all the strongest Zanpakuto, and a sword on purple hellfire propelled towards the turquoise figure.
However, Ichigo himself was numb to the experience as he dropped his dual Zanpakuto, which dissipated into Spiritual Particles.
In an instant, Tengagetsu's lower half and abilities was obliterated by a force of magma like Spiritual Pressure fired from Xiuhtecuhtli.
"I don't have time to deal with you. I was taken off guard last time as we all were...the time you decided to have us be the progenitors for your little Hollow project.," said the Dio Hueco.
"I have a question though. Why did you turn on the Soul King of your quadrant and his heir? Guilt? A tense for redemption?"
"No... what's the difference between a king and his horse? I don't mean kiddy shit like "One's a person and one's an animal" or "One has two legs and one has four." If their form, ability and power were exactly the same, why is it that one becomes the king and controls the battle, while the other becomes the horse and carries the king?! There's only one answer. Instinct! In order for identical beings to get stronger and gain the power they need to become king, they must search for more battles and power! They thirst for battle, and live to mercilessly, crush, shred, and slice their enemies! Deep, deep within our body lies the honed instinct to kill, and slaughter our enemies! But he don't have that! They were more content to sit their asses on the thrones they built with blood while others and I did their dirty work! They didn't have those pure, base instincts! They fight with their brains and scheming. They try to defeat your enemies with logic and deception! And it doesn't work for me and others! They don't even bother slaying with a fully bladed sword facing forwards, but a dagger in the back! That's why they're weaker than us! I'm not gonna have it, you pissant! I don't know about the other four, but I refuse to carry a king who's weaker than me and get cut to ribbons on his whim. If they're weaker than me, then I'll destroy them, and take their crown for myself. Even if it it means backstabbing and usurping my users like I've done years before like with Ichiyon and his predecessors when they got soft," Tengagetsu replied.
"You are a pitiful creature.," Xiuhtecuhtli said as he incinerated the Zanpakuto.
The Dio Hueco walked past Ichigo who stood frozen and unresponsive.
"Your father died and your Zanpakuto just revealed itself to have been lying to this entire time. Aren't you angry?," asked Xiuhtecuhtli.
Ichigo said nothing.
"Time to take the Deus Ex Machina.," said the Dio Hueco as he used a movement that was different from Sonidó Ichigo was used to.
Ichigo then collapsed on the ground in silent despair.
6th Section
Kisuke, Yoruichi and Tessai all came out after they sensed Isshin's Spiritual Pressure vanish and Ichigo's Spiritual Pressure plummeting downwards.
"So our plan to assassinate the Soul Emperor went downhill. Those two were our best chance.," the hat wearing man noted.
"So what do we do now?," asked Yoruichi.
Tessai then saw Keiso walking towards the central palace.
"What's he doing?," asked Tessai.
"Let's follow him. I have a bad feeling about this.," said the dark skinned woman.
The trio agreed as they tailed behind the assistant head of the Kidō Corps.
"I know you're following me.," said the youth as he turned around turned around to see the trio.
"Strange things have been occurring since the Garganta inexplicably was reduced in half before it restored itself. And my friend has inexplicably vanished-," Kisuke said.
"Did you know about Sōsuke Aizen disappearing? I think that was the Dio Hueco's doing.," interjected the boy.
"The details were obscure. It could've been a political agenda that saw his demise. " Kisuke remarked.
"Whatever implied that it was a death? Isn't he immortal?," Keiso asked.
"As far as what was observable by the Hōgyoku's powers. Things like immortality are flimsy at best.," Kisuke told the boy.
"That's going to bring a lot of controversy if it ever became public. After this war.," Keiso remarked.
"In the morning, David wrote a letter to Joab, which he sent with Uriah. He wrote in the letter as follows: 'Place Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest; then fall back so that he may be killed.," Kisuke said.
"How very sophisticated. That's a very Western Branch type of religious reading-," said the boy.
"And it would be very convenient if all of the thorns on your sides were to up and vanish during the conflict.," said the blonde.
Keiso's eyes narrowed.
"Don't tell me you're intending to die a dog's death to avenge some whoever you pined for-," said the boy less respectfully as he dodged a punch from Yoruichi.
"Bastard. My family's curse! The disappearance of my older siblings! And Yūshirō Shihōin being your little puppet in the Shihōin clan along with Tokinada's replacement and the Nārākū playing a part in Sōsuke Aizen's fall into nasty stuff...All to have a three way advantage over the changing Kuchiki clan's decisions to be less dogmatic than before.," said the dark skinned woman.
"Maybe they should've thought about it before they started on sparing the enemy. That Sōjun Kuchiki and his wife were supporters so they had to be dealt with in a way that made their son loyal to the system, but that damn Kurosaki ruined everything.," Keiso said less amicably.
"What does that all mean?," asked Yoruichi.
"It means Aizen, Kūgo and the Vandenreich clones' plans were all due to me. The reason I'm telling you this is because I also don't intend for any of you guys to leave here alive.," said Keiso as he conjured a dark purple Spiritual Pressure. It took the form of a large voodoo doll covered in silver nails that looked suspiciously like Yoruichi.
"The straws of man, bounded together, the loathing screams, bent on the pain of the unforgiving foe, to which the nail strikes to inflict the wound, on the straw bound in the form of man. Secret Hadō Number One: Kyōyū Ningyō (Shared Pain Doll).," said the youth.
He then struck at the nail on the doll's right leg, which somehow caused Yoruichi's leg to bleed.
Tessai then pulled out his shakujō as he chanted-
"I shun all suffering, for I know enlightenment is upon us, for the path to ascension is through repentance. Secret Bakudō Number One: Mukō-ka Kutsū (Nullification of Agony)."
The voodoo doll and Yoruichi's injuries vanished.
However, Tessai started to bleed from his mouth.
"Idiot! Don't worry about me!," she shouted.
"I'm not just doing it for you. Ever since I left the Tsukabishi Clan and the Kidō Corps- no even before we left, the rest of the clan have been undermining my leadership and that of my father's time when he was a member of the Royal Guard...before he vanished. I believe that this man's father is responsible for the suffering that Hachi went through as well. I will take down his whelp in order to draw him out so you can exact your revenge on him and the Nārākū head for what they've done to your loved ones.," said the man.
"Such a touching story!," said Keiso.
"Those are the Forbidden Kidō you're never supposed to use. Only someone like the Monk or someone on his level can use that sort of power without the backlash.," Kisuke noted with concern.
"And that boy isn't being harmed from the backlash. After I left, it was all my brother- the boy's father went without a lieutenant until the boy's birth, to which he aged in a similar means to a Soul Reaper's usual slow aging process. Yet, the boy surpassed him and has an innate talent for Kidō. I will discover the truth in my fight.," Tessai said.
"You think you can beat him?," asked Kisuke.
Tessai nodded as he raised his staff horizontally.
"Know Kindanchie Majutsushi (Sorcerer of Forbidden Wisdom)."
"I see no evil. Hear no evil. Speak no Evil. Do no evil. Taste no evil. Touch no evil. Secret Hadō Number Two: Kankaku Shadan (Sensory Deprivation).," Keiso said in the midst of Tessai' incantation for his Shikai.
The dark skinned man's vision went blurry, but still he resolved to fight the boy.
The half circle of his staff became a full-circle as as the pommel end of the staff became a spear.
He moved a slight step, but stumbled as Kisuke came to his aid.
"Wait! You're blind! The kid did something to you! I'll be backup-," Kisuke said before Tessai grabbed his collar.
"This is a fight between members of the clan. Unlike the 1-99, the Secret Kidō spells are an unknown that even you don't know about. You can analyze how to defeat him with this fight if I fail.," said Tessai as he wiped the blood from his mouth.
He walked forward as he looked down at Keiso.
Kisuke gritted his teeth as did Yoruichi.
"I will teach you to look down on your elders boy.," said the man.
He used Tessō (Iron Palm), an open palm strike on Keiso, but the boy dodged it with ease and appeared behind him as he chanted his spell-
"I call upon the five elements to aid my request. Bend to my will. The will of the thousand monks before and after me. Secret Hadō Number Three: Teppūsatsu (Iron Wind Kill)."
Keiso did a chopping motion with his right hand, creating an aura shaped like the head of a large green dragon that blew a powerful wind from its mouth at the enemy, pressuring him to the ground.
"Hi, Mizu, Kaminari,-Do, Kinzoku (Fire, Water, Lightning, Earth, Metal)."
The dragon turned from green to red to blue to yellow to brown to silver as it breathed fire, water, electricity, earth and metal shards onto Tessai.
"I shun all negativity. All ill intent. All sin and vices. Secret Bakudō Number Two- Kyozetsu Shōheki (Rejection Barrier)."
Tessai summoned a golden spherical barrier to block the bombarding attacks.
"Those weren't apart of the spells. You modified them.," Tessai said as more blood came from his mouth.
"Isn't it the job of the succeeding generations to improve on what has come before them?," asked the boy.
"No, it's to keep to tradition because that's how things have worked since time immemorial.," said the man.
"Stagnation leads to demise. Decay into ash. Fall to Ruin. Secret Hadō Number Four: Kuro Zetsubō Fuhai (Rotting Decay of Black Despair)."
The golden barrier began to break apart as a black Spiritual Pressure from Keiso's began to ebb onto Tessai's right hand, causing it to rot as a rapid pace. Tessai quickly sliced off his arm in order for the infection not to spread any further.
The arm continued to rot as Kisuke looked on with worry.
"This thing reminds me a lot of what Soifon said about an Arrancar who did a similar trick. What kind of bastard would have that sort of technique as a spell?," Yoruichi remarked with a scowl.
"I have a feeling they were secret for a reason.," Kisuke remarked as he forced himself not to vomit.
Tessai used healing Kidō to restore his arm as he chanted his next spell.
"The Lord passes judgment. The iron clasps on the sinner. The spikes keep in check. The coils bind. Secret Bakudō Number Three: Mahi Kinzoku Josei (Metal Lady of Paralysis)."
Keiso suddenly surrounded by a translucent iron maiden that held him in place.
Keiso proceeded to use the same black spell again to remove the binding.
"Always countering and never attacking. You were someone to act on his own accord, but rather react. You were a poor leader to the clan.," Keiso remarked.
"It wasn't about being a leader, but being of use to the Soul Society-," Tessai said.
Suddenly out of nowhere, Keiso's face twitched into an insane visage with sharp teeth as he boasted-
"I am the Soul Society! My brother and I are the Soul Society! So you have failed even in that duty! The Fire of Hell come out! The seekers of the harlots and sinners! The screams of the torment wail in agony! Secret Hadō Number Five: Jigokuhi Saibankan Shiroi (White Hellfire of the Infernal Judge)."
From his right palm, Keiso fired a torrent of white flames covered in tormented faces screaming in agony towards Tessai.
"I take in suffering! In the the agony! To feel empathy! To feel understanding! Secret Bakudō Number Four: Kūgeki (Void)."
Tessai summoned a blackhole to absorb the attack as he began to bleed from his forehead after performing the spell.
"Ye Lord of masking flesh. Answer the prayers of the screaming ocean. Send away the storms. Send away the maelstrom. Secret Bakudō Number Five: Tsuihō (Banishment)."
A circular rift in space appeared behind the boy as it propelled him backwards.
"Ye Lord of revealed bones. Undo reality. Reveal the beasts of madness. Uncover the lies of sanity. Secret Hadō Number Six: Konton Dōbutsu Fukyōwaon (Chaotic Beast Cacophony)!"
Suddenly, the area transformed into a collection of eldritch and alien faces that all screamed in incomprehensible tongues, causing the rift to vanish. Tessai began to sink into the ground as he was about to swallowed up by one of the faces that managed to appear beneath him.
"Ye Ladyship! Undo The insanity! Undo the Destruction! Undo the horror! Undo the Terror! Secret Bakudō Number Six: Antei (Stabilization)."
Tessai stabbed the ground as the beasts vanished as the area returned to normal.
"An illusion?," Tessai asked.
"Reality is stranger than fiction. Take it anyway you like...boy...," said Keiso.
"That was a strange way to refer to me. Who are you really? This mastery is too refined even for a prodigy.," Tessai asked as his vision returned.
"You said all I did was counter. How about if I decide to take on the offense now?," asked Tessai as he pointed his staff upwards.
Keiso looked upwards as Tessai shot his Spiritual Pressure into the sky.
"The Heavens open up. The guardians of the treasures of the skies send down their armaments. To slay the sinner. Secret Hadō Number Seven: Tenkūhō (Heavenly Artillery)!"
Suddenly the blackness of the outer-space was covered in dark clouds, which rumbled and quaked for several seconds. Slowly, a ray of light opened as more and more began to peak from the clouds.
The clouds opened to reveal gigantic swords, spears, cannons, axes, etc. All weapons composed of light and all directed towards Keiso.
Tessai began to bleed from every orifice of his body from performing the spell.
Kisuke was about to intervene, but Yoruichi stopped him with a look that said that it was their friend's fight to win.
The boy stopped being so smug and expressed disbelief at the sight.
"From your expression, you've never mastered beyond the Sixth Hadō. Your hubris will be your undoing...brat.," said Tessai as the the weapon rained down upon him.
Keiso widened his eyes as he suddenly changed tactics.
"Evade Suffering! Evade Death! Evade the snares of Judgment! Evade Pain! Evade Negativity! Secret Bakudō Number Seven: Fuzai Yōkai (Specter of Nonexistence)!"
The youth became transparent and intangible in order for the projectiles. At first, he was confident in staying in one spot as the attacks didn't hit him, but slowly and gradually, he began to get grazed and soon outright impaled by the holy weapons meant to hit their enemies.
"Avoid the call of the Reaper! Avoid the Death that comes for all! Avoid all Demise! Secret Bakudō Number Eight: Ichiji-tekina Fushi (Temporary Immorality)!"
He went from being intangible to attacks to trying his best to withstand the barrage of attacks until they reached their limit, hoping that his now regenerative body would be able to withstand the barrage.
However, he had failed to account for Tessai's location during the bombardment.
He turned around as he saw Tessai just in time before he was impaled by the spear.
"In combat it's useless...It's been passed on by the Tsukabishi clan...not as a means to fight Hollows, but to render the powers of traitorous Kidō users useless. By cutting off their connection of the Soul Sleep and Binding Chain to the part of the spirit that allows for Kidō control. And in this case, taking the Kidō ability my enemy has...and allowing it be absorbed so I can perform...Bankai.," Tessai explained.
Keiso's eyes widened in horror.
"Bankai: Zenchi Kenja (All Knowing Sage)."
Tessai stabbed the ground as the staff phased into the surface. The ground rumbled as a humanoid wearing a blue robe, with pitch black skin, white silhouettes on its joints that implied that it was mechanical and a long, flowing beard.
Its closed eyes opened to reveal white, pupil-less eyes that flashed onto the youth. The boy was held in place, unable to move or do anything.
"This Sage knows everything and anything it knows, the action will not happen in its vision.. I heard from my father that this is a faulty version of another with a similar power, but it's enough to defeat you. You were just an inexperienced whelp in the grand scheme of things.," said Tessai as he grasped his palms together as he weaved a complex motions of hand signs.
"All comes to end. All comes to the black curtain closing. All stars blink from existence. All worlds decay! All life dies! The Gods forgotten! The words of the past become lost to time! All that begins comes to an end! Secret Hadō Number Eight: Shūryō (Termination)."
A several of magic circles stacked on top of the other, leading to a pile that stretched for countless light years above Keiso's head manifested. On the top of the circles was a colossal version of King Enma from the World of the Living's Shinto Religion, an ogre like judge with a round hat with two golden tassel extensions that stretched horizontally from the hat and a dark blue robe. He swung a judge's hammer onto the circles, which each collided onto each other. They then proceeded to land onto Keiso, obliterating him from existence.
Tessai, breathing heavily, was now covered in blood, his every cell screaming pain and his hair became white.
"Don't worry. We'll get help.," the blonde said with reassurance.
"T-thanks Mr. Kisuke.," Tessai said weakly.
Yoruichi and Kisuke began to walk towards Tessai in order to congratulate him.
Suddenly, Keiso walked into the area...as if he had not fought Tessai in the first place.
Tessai then looked at "Keiso" and saw it was merely torn remains of a human shaped piece of paper.
"What's going on?!," he shouted.
"A decoy?!," Yoruichi shouted.
"You took down my Shikigami...For Death Gods, you're very ignorant of other gods, including the gods of paper. If you did, you won't have been so reckless to attack. So insignificant...impertinent whelp.," said the youth as he pointed his right index finger to the sky.
"Shikigami...That was something from the Monk's time...You're...," Tessai said before suddenly he saw something in the sky propel downwards.
"Get him and don't leave much of a me. Korōri.," said the youth as a pot bellied creature, stripped like a tiger and having the head of a wolf opened its mouth as released a purple miasma that rotted the man instantly. The weird creature proceeded to vanish just as quickly as it appeared.
Kisuke and Yoruichi stared in horror as their comrade died in front of them.
"He was the son of that annoying Kinzokusai Tsukabishi. The man was asking questions so I erased his memories and threw him in the World of the Living as an amnesiac with his talents now minimal. This poor sap assumed he was assassinated and spent his entire life working with you guys in order to avenge a death that never happened. Though, it was fun seeing him go all out for nothing.," said the youth.
"You talk as though you did the deed...You couldn't have done. It was before your time.," Kisuke said.
"Who are you really?"
"Isn't there a bigger thought on your mind? Like avenging your poor comrade?," asked Keiso.
"Unfortunately, your antics just made Tessai die without revealing anything about what you could do. I have no idea what you can actually do at this point. Yoruichi and I will now be fighting blindly.," said Kisuke.
"Fight me? I think that you will be fighting someone else instead.
The duo turned around to see the Dio Huecol
"Damnit! It's too soon.," Yoruichi cursed.
"I'm here for your Deus Ex Machina...The thing you call the Hōgyoku.," said Xiuhtecuhtli.
He then noticed Keiso waving at him.
"Hello, Yoshidoi Hiraku.," said the Dio Hueco with scorn.
Keiso's smile lessened when he heard the name.
"Wait?! The other son of the Soul King other than Yhwach and Ashiyaku Domanojo?! How's the kid the same guy!?," Yoruichi shouted.
"A long explanation. I hope you thank me and my brother for hasting your resurrection. And we'd be happy to get your item for you-.," said the youth.
"Anyone to do with Soul Society is an enemy of my clan. You can all die for all I care.," said Xiuhtecuhtli.
"So you'll be the first martyr on the Dio Hueco's side.," Keiso said.
Yoruichi and Kisuke grimaced as they were now caught in a three way battle with two individuals who want
Next Chapter: The Sad Duet