Chapter 21: The Precipice of Defeat
Hey guys
Time for another somewhat lengthy Author's Note.
Apparently, I accidentally forgot to include Yhwach in the tier list I made last chapter. I honestly have no idea how I could have forgotten such a major character, but let me assure you that he rests somewhere between the Supreme Class and the Top Ten Class; and yes, there is a reason why I have decided to not put him in the Top Ten. Ultimately, he is within a class of his own.
Yhwach's fighting strength is certainly impressive, but without The Almighty, I estimate that he would be weaker than the beings in the Top Ten. Keep in mind that I created the tier list based on physical power alone, and not on supernatural ability. I classify The Almighty as being part of Yhwach's supernatural abilities, but if I were to count it, then he definitely would be amongst the Top Ten. He would likely even be towards the top of the list just under Chaos and Ophis. The Almighty just makes him bullshit levels of powerful, and his fusion with the Soul King elevated his strength even more.
Can we all at least agree that Tite Kubo created the ultimate broken character?
Yhwach is cool and all, but he's just a bit too overpowered for my tastes. Yes, he was defeated in the end, but The Almighty's ability to literally change the future to meet his needs was a bit much. Lmao.
Also, I purposefully excluded Great Red from the tier list simply because I thought that we were all aware that he can't even really be classified amongst most of the characters in the story, even by "High School DxD" standards. But to clarify, he is easily the strongest being in existence.
I hope that answers some questions. I will be addressing additional reviews again in the ending Author's Notes.
I hope you enjoy the chapter!
AlucardsBro OUT!
(Hellsing Manor; London, England)
Zorin scowled as a long-range round grazed her right cheek.
With her concentration broken, the enormous illusion she had created slowly began to dissipate away into nothingness. Reaching up with a hand, she wiped away the line of blood that dripped down the side of her face. "So, the bitch managed to see through my illusions, eh? Doesn't matter. Those weaklings are still going to die screaming."
The Wild Geese resumed firing fairly quickly, but it didn't make much of a difference.
Raising a hand, Zorin absorbed the surrounding Reishi particles from the air and concentrated them into a glowing sphere of Spiritual Energy. The sphere continued to grow in size as she collected more Reishi, and once it was the size of a small car, she blasted the glowing orb forward. Once it was a fair distance away, it finally exploded directly over the center of the mansion's front lawn. Seele Schneider flew out from the explosion like pieces of shrapnel, decorating the field with glowing blue blades of condensed Spirit Energy.
The field was instantaneously engulfed in a column of fire as the Seele Schneider successfully managed to detonate all of the remaining claymore mines. As the dust settled, Zorin raised her scythe and pointed it towards the Manor. "Now there is nothing in your way! Go and kill them!"
The soldiers accompanying her all let out roars of approval, and quickly darted across the lawn towards the mansion. Zorin herself utilized a burst of Hirenkyaku to cross the large distance in less than a fraction of a second.
It genuinely irritated her that Seras Victoria had managed to break through her illusion, but it honestly wasn't too unexpected. As the Major had said, the blonde bitch was the direct spawn of Alucard himself, and it stood to reason that her vampiric abilities would surpass those of ordinary bloodsuckers. Unfortunately, that also meant her sensory skills were likely second to none; she wouldn't be fooled by any more tricks.
With that being the case, she would simply have to be dealt with in the old-fashioned way.
Zorin smirked, hefting her scythe and tensing her muscles. It had been far too long since she'd last been able to participate in a truly challenging fight, and she was practically salivating at the idea of bloodshed. She would relish in the sensation of tearing out the Police Girl's throat and draining her dry of every last drop of bodily fluid.
A loud 'crack' suddenly echoed from within the Manor, and Zorin barely reacted in time to block the incoming depleted uranium shell that was fired at her. In a flash of motion, she brought her scythe in front of her body. The projectile smashed into the flat side of her weapon's blade, and the resulting explosion threw her several dozen feet back. Still, it was going to take a hell of a lot more than that to put her out of action.
Snarling furiously, Zorin dashed forward. Swinging her scythe with practiced precision, she carved through the additional rounds that were unleashed upon her. Even with the advanced strength and durability she possessed, Zorin's muscular arms still quivered under the force of each explosion, and her expression morphed into a severely irritated grimace. And of course, the Wild Geese also continued to rain gunfire into the ranks of her undead subordinates.
It was absolutely infuriating to acknowledge that the only reason the mercenaries were still alive was because of the dumb bitch taking potshots at her. If Seras could be taken out of the equation quickly enough, then the SS officers would have no trouble breaching the manor and slaughtering all of the pathetic humans still inside.
Lips pulling back into yet another snarl, Zorin blitzed across the field using Hirenkyaku before leaping into the air. Pumping her scythe full of Reishi, she smirked toothily as the weapon began to glow a bright blue. The technique she was preparing to use was one she had developed herself, and she was damn proud of having figured out a way to use her Quincy abilities in such a devastating fashion.
Grasping the very edge of her scythe's handle, she slashed the weapon through the air horizontally in front of her body. "Heilig Beurteilung!"
A crescent of Spiritual Energy discharged from her weapon, racing through the air towards the front of Hellsing Manor. It collided with the structure completely unimpeded, and instantly vaporized the entire front section of the building. Screams from those cowering within reached her ears, and Zorin chuckled with delight at having finally delivered such a heavy blow.
Gently descending towards the ground, she stopped in midair as her feet touched an invisible platform comprised of condensed Reishi. Gazing down at her soldiers, she growled and thrusted her scythe in the direction of the enormous house. "Well? What the hell are you waiting for, an invitation?!"
The undead men offered up growls and snarls, before raising their weapons and once again dashing towards the house. They entered the building through the hole that the Heilig Beurteilung had created, and soon the sound of heavy gunfire ripped through the night.
So too did the sounds of utter agony.
Zorin inhaled deeply, closing her eyes and turning her face up towards the moon. The scent of freshly-spilled blood filled her nostrils, and she allowed her tongue to briefly slip out and wet her lips. The urge to feed was almost overwhelming, but she would have to control her baser instincts until Hellsing's forces were completely decimated.
Only then would she give in.
Removing the glove on her right hand, Zorin cackled madly as she let the article of clothing flutter to the ground. With her limiter gone, she instantaneously felt her Reiatsu triple in power. The tattoos littering her right arm glowed a deep amethyst, and she increased her Spiritual Pressure to such a level that it ripped apart the grass and trees beneath her.
"That bitch will pay for shooting me down… I'll paint that gottverdammt mansion with her blood!"
Finally allowing herself to drop to the ground, Zorin rested her scythe against her left shoulder and calmly walked up the steps leading into the ruined remnants of the Manor. The sound of gunfire and the scent of blood guided her, and she followed the trail of corpses that lead from the front of the house. Before too long, she finally came across several of her men.
They acknowledged her arrival with a unified salute, but she quickly waved them off. "Where are they?"
"We've managed to thin their numbers considerably, First Lieutenant. Those that remain have retreated deeper into the mansion, but there are still stragglers."
"Good. Kill any bastard you come across."
The sharp crack of a gun suddenly echoed from behind her, but Zorin didn't pay it any mind. Two of her subordinates immediately dashed forward to use their own bodies as a shield for her benefit, and they didn't even flinch as the bullets ripped into their flesh. Chucking cruelly, Zorin turned around to look at whoever had been stupid enough to shoot at her.
A single member of the Wild Geese stared back at her, face contorted with fear.
"Trying to be a hero, huh?" she mocked. Her soldiers stepped aside, allowing her to casually walk towards the petrified mercenary. "Thought you could take out the enemy commander and win the day, did you? I'll have to come up with something special for you." Reaching out with her right hand, Zorin willed her Reiatsu to flood into the limb, making the tattoos on her arm pulse a dark purple.
The man shuffled back, dropping his gun and raising his arms to shield his face. "No! Get the fuck away from me!"
Using the power bestowed upon her by His Majesty, Zorin delved into the sniveling man's mind and sorted through his memories, looking for just the right thing that would break his spirit. After a brief moment, she smirked upon finding what she was searching for. "Lost you daughter, did you? Looks like it was to cancer. How would you like a reunion?"
Zorin warped the mercenary's sense of reality, trapping him in yet another illusion. Everything within would seem as real as could be, right down to whatever sounds and smells he would experience. The man let out a gasp, before stepping forward. He adopted a look of incredulity, and began to tear up in a truly pitiful fashion.
The orange-haired Sternritter smirked.
"M-Michelle…?" the man asked hesitantly, meeting her mismatched eyes. "No… it can't be true, Y-You're dead!"
"What are you talking about, daddy?" Zorin replied, modulating her voice to sound exactly like the poor bastard's long-deceased daughter. "You're so silly!"
The mercenary finally broke down completely, throwing himself at her and wrapping his arms around her midsection. "Michelle! Oh God, I've missed you so much…"
Zorin gently placed her right hand atop the sobbing man's head… before gripping a fistful of hair and tearing it off. His spine followed in a shower of bloody visceral, completely coming free from the rest of his body. Raising the decapitated head up to her face, the Sternritter looked into the dead man's eyes. Behind her, the group of vampiric Nazi soldiers descended into a fit of collective laughter.
"Sorry to cut the reunion short."
They had been pushed back.
Confined to the Round Table room, the remaining members of the Wild Geese desperately stacked every piece of furniture they could find against the main entrance to the room. Watching his men move back and forth across the enclosed space, Pip limped over to the nearest wall. He'd taken a bullet to the thigh, and the wound was seriously starting to impede his range of movement. Their current position was the most easily defendable place in what remained of the mansion, but it would still only be a matter of time before the vampires found a way in and they were completely overrun.
Once he was a fair distance away from his men, Pip fished into one of the pockets of his combat pants and pulled out his personal cellphone. Rolling the device over in his hand several times, he finally flipped it open and used his right thumb to punch in a memorized set of numbers. Pressing the call button, he then brought the phone up to his ear and waited patiently.
Behind him, the rest of the Wild Geese all cried out as a sudden explosion shook the foundation of the building. He had no idea what had happened, but Pip still elected to ignore it. He had a pretty good feeling that tonight would be the last one he spent on Earth. That being the case, there was only one more thing he really wanted to do before embracing his ultimate fate. The phone continued to ring for several minutes, before the person he was trying to call finally answered.
"Pip?" Eda's voice mumbled into his ear. Her speech was slurred and her tone was somewhat groggy. It was plainly obvious that he'd woken her up. "It's one o'clock in the morning, babe. What's up?"
The Frenchman chuckled, reaching into his coat for a cigarette. Placing one between his lips, he lit it slowly and inhaled a deep lungful of nicotine before replying. "Edith, mon amour… I apologize for not calling sooner. It really is good to hear that lovely voice of yours again."
His girlfriend snorted. In his mind, he could imagine that she was rolling her eyes. "Uh huh. You wouldn't be calling me unless you wanted something. So, what is it… you want to do some phone sex? I'm a little tired, I'll admit, but I can still-"
"Non," Pip interrupted, shaking his head while letting out a genuine laugh. "Honestly! I just wanted to hear you! I also wanted to thank you…"
"Thank me? What the hell for?"
"For giving a bastard like me a chance."
Eda was silent for a moment. When she finally spoke again, her tone conveyed a hint of worry. "The fuck are you talking about? Where the hell is this coming from so suddenly?"
He ignored her question. "I've done a lot of things that I'm not proud of, mon chéri. I'm a hired gun, and I've killed a lot of people for extremely dirty money. I never even considered the thought of a genuine relationship before I met you, but you accepted me for who I am. I'm very grateful for that, just so you know."
"Pip… are you alright?"
"Better now than I've ever been, mon chéri," he replied, smiling softly. "Je t'aime, Edith Blackwater."
"I love you too."
The weight in his chest lifted, and Pip brought the phone away from his ear. Ending the call, he quickly shoved the device back in his pocket before limping back over to his men. "Alright, ladies! That barricade isn't going to hold for much longer. Hand out all the ammunition we have left, but make sure to use that shit sparingly."
"What good will that do us?!" one of the men shouted in panic. He dropped his weapon, and fell to his knees while cradling his head in his hands. "Those vampires are gonna fucking kill us! Even if we surrendered, they'd just torture us to death! I-I… I don't want to die!"
"Well tough shit!" Pip roared, stomping over to the sobbing man. Grabbing him roughly by the collar of his jacket, the Frenchman hoisted his subordinate off his feet and pulled him up to eye level. "Listen to me, Johnson! You signed up to be a mercenary, didn't you? Miss Hellsing already payed us some damn fine money, so I don't want to hear jack shit about giving up while you can still stand, do you hear me? I don't want to die either, but I'm going to keep fighting until my legs give out!"
"B-But Captain…"
"Shut the fuck up! You're going to fight like a merc, you're going to die like one, and you better be damn happy about it! What better way to leave this world than with our guns blazing, eh? The Wild Geese will be remembered as the brave sons of bitches who fought hordes of the undead until the very last men. Isn't that right, Johnson?"
"Y-Yes! Yes, Sir! I'm sorry Captain!"
Setting the blond man back on his feet, Pip offered him a wry grin and dusted his jacket off for him. "No need to apologize, mon amie. I'm probably just as scared as the rest of you. Hell… if I don't make it out of here alive, I know my lady friend will give me shit for all of eternity in the life after this one."
A round of genuine chuckles swept throughout the room. Even Johnson, who had been mere moments away from suffering a complete breakdown, offered up a somewhat nervous laugh. Morale had returned for the moment, but that still had the potential to change the entire outcome of the battle. The briefest moments of faith and hope had allowed men and women to do extraordinary things in the past.
Suddenly, gunfire peppered the other side of the barricade.
The Wild Geese all threw themselves behind whatever cover they could find, but Pip scowled and limped directly towards the pile of furniture in front of the door. Raising his Minimi M249 over the top of the barricade without exposing his head, he blindly returned fire back down the hallway. Counting to eight to preserve ammunition, Pip ducked back down behind full cover after a few moments.
His second in command, Travis Willingham, crawled across the floor to sit next to him against the barricade. "Hey, Captain… you remember that airstrip in Uganda? Those guerrillas had us pinned down, and we thought we were done for. Then the cavalry came riding in. I honestly don't see that happening this time."
Pip snorted, checking his belt for additional magazines. "Don't give up yet, Willingham. Seras is coming, I'm sure of it. In fact, I'll even bet my life on it!"
Something suddenly slammed into the barricade with the force of a falling star, and Pip swore as both he and his Lieutenant were violently thrown across the room. Wooden shrapnel tore into his stomach, and the Frenchman gnashed his teeth in agony. Landing roughly on the floor, he slid across the marble for a few feet before his momentum was halted by a solid object. Pulling himself up, Pip let out a horrified gasp upon realizing that he'd collided with one of his own men.
The poor bastard's lower half was completely gone from the waist down. His entrails spilled out onto the floor, and blood pooled out underneath him into a large puddle. "C-Captain…"
Ignoring the pain in his stomach, Pip forced himself to his knees. Shuffling closer to the wounded man, he desperately looked around for something that might be able to stop the bleeding. "I'm here! Don't you fucking die on me!"
"I'm so tired, Captain… I think I'm gonna close my eyes for a minute…"
And just like that, Pip was cradling a dead man in his arms.
(Gremory Territory, Underworld)
"What can you tell me about dragons?"
That wasn't really a difficult question to answer.
Leaning back against the cushions of the couch, Ichigo crossed one of his legs over the other and folded his arms across his chest. Just like yesterday, he and Grayfia had once again relocated to the sitting room for another study session. Moonlight shone through the large windows to their right, but Ichigo had recently learned that the sun and moon of the Underworld were artificial. They were simply enchanted to move in time with the cycles of the celestial bodies in the Living World.
"Dragons are creatures of myth and legend," he began, prattling off the most intellectual response he could think of. He wasn't exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer when it came to unfamiliar Factions, but dragons were creatures that humanity was largely fascinated with as a whole. "They're also famous for their ability to breathe fire, and some dragons are worshipped as gods by different cultures around the world. How was that?"
Grayfia nodded, smiling in apparent satisfaction. "Very good. Your knowledge is rudimentary at best, but I can easily work with that." Snapping her fingers, the silver-haired She-Devil conjured up an ancient-looking textbook and magically commanded it to open to a desired page, which depicted a weathered drawing of a dragon. Written text was present as well, but it was hard to read. "Dragons are largely solitary by nature, but they still have a very rough hierarchal system."
Ichigo listened intently.
School in the human world hadn't been captivating enough, but the subjects he was being taught by Grayfia were truly fascinating. It helped to open his eyes to a world that had existed around him all his life, which he had never even been aware of. It also helped that his new teacher was basically a living vault of knowledge, and had been alive to witness most of what she was teaching him.
His godmother continued with her lecture, oblivious to his inner thoughts. "These creatures have no real governing body, but some occasionally choose to align themselves with the political group that reign wherever they choose to make their nests. For example, the former Dragon King Tannin resides here in the Underworld, and he actually requested to be reincarnated into a Devil some centuries ago."
"Dragon King? I thought you said they didn't have any form of government?"
"They do not," Grayfia responded, regarding him patiently. "However, Dragon Kings are individual dragons that have been given their titles due to the fact that they have made their mark on history in one way or another. The Kings do not actually rule over the rest of their kin, but they are greatly respected throughout the draconian community."
"How many Dragon Kings are there?" Ichigo asked, genuinely curious.
Who wouldn't be interested to learn about dragons?
They were dragons for crying out loud.
And dragons were awesome. There was no room for argument.
"There has been a total of six all throughout recorded history. As I already mentioned, Tannin was one of them, but he forfeited his title once he became a Reincarnated Devil. Now he permanently resides here in the Underworld, where he is actually quite popular with the children." Grayfia paused to chuckle lightly, bringing up a dainty hand to cover her amused expression. "He is also particularly fond of gardening."
A dragon gardener…?
Ichigo supposed everyone had a right to their own hobbies.
"What about the rest of them?" he inquired. "You said there have only been six, right?"
"That is correct," his godmother nodded. The book floating in the air next to her opened to another page, decorated with what looked like Norse runes. "Aside from Tannin, there is also the Jörmungandr. Also known as Midgardsormr, he is The World Serpent of the Norse Pantheon. He is the largest dragon in existence, and is currently regarded as the second most powerful Dragon King alive. Additionally, the venom stored in his fangs is quite easily the most dangerous substance in the known world. There is no antidote, and a single drop is enough to kill several blue whales."
Another page was turned.
"From the Norse Pantheon as well, we have Fafnir, who is also known as the Gilded One. Oddly enough, he seems rather fond of using traditional weaponry in battle. Whenever he comes across a new weapon, he stores it in his hoard for later use."
Turning another page, Grayfia continued. "Next, there is Yu-Long the Mischievous One. He is the very same dragon depicted in the popular story of the Journey to the West. However, despite his status, he is actually quite young when compared to the other Dragon Kings."
Ichigo listened silently, and watched as his godmother turned yet another page. "There is also Vritra, who is infamous amongst the Hindu Faction. Centuries ago he was slain by Indra, and his spirit was confined into a multitude of weapons known as Sacred Gears. Although many consider him to be the weakest Dragon King, his multitude of abilities undoubtedly make him one of the most dangerous."
The book opened up to a new page. Deep colors of sapphire and azure decorated the paper, and Ichigo felt himself strangely entranced by the stunning creature being depicted.
Reaching up to tap the tome with a finger, Grayfia sent him what could only be described as a warning look. "And last, but certainly not least, we have Tiamat. The Great Mother and the Chaos Karma Dragon. She is the oldest and most powerful Dragon King, and is even regarded as one of the Ancient Ones."
"What does that mean?"
"The Ancient Ones are beings who existed long before humanity was created and began to form their civilizations. For example, Kronos and Gaea of the Greco-Roman Pantheon are also considered to be within this group. Given that Albion and Ddraig are currently sealed and the Divine Pair are considered to be in a league of their own, Tiamat is currently considered to be the most powerful dragon in existence."
"And exactly how powerful is that?"
Grayfia hummed thoughtfully, closing her eyes for a brief moment. "I can confidently say that the only two Devils in our society who could defeat her would be Sirzechs and Lord Ajuka. Even then, that is only because they both have higher levels of power that they are able to unlock. Their fellow Satans do not share such a luxury."
"Alright then. Who are Albion and Ddraig?" Ichigo asked.
"To answer that question, I will have to go into a bit more detail," Grayfia replied, allowing the book to disappear. Making herself more comfortable, she rested both of her hands in her lap. "Albion and Ddraig are both known as the Heavenly Dragons. Centuries ago, their rivalry shook both Heaven and Earth, and their lengthy battles took the lives of many innocents. To give a bit of context, the story goes that Ddraig was a dragon who could breathe flames so hot that they could incinerate anything, including gods themselves. One day, he met Albion, who was the first being he had ever encountered who could resist the intense heat of his fire. The two dragons were both overjoyed to come across another creature that could match their strength, so they became arch-rivals."
Fire that could kill gods?
That sounded pretty damn intense.
Part of him wondered how Yamamoto's Ryūjin Jakka would be able to match up against fire so hot. The old man's Zanpakutō was easily one of the most powerful things Ichigo had ever seen, but he'd only ever actually witnessed its sealed power. Could Yamamoto's Bankai be enough to evenly counter Ddraig's firepower?
Such a thing would be a spectacle for the ages.
"One day, during one of their battles, Albion and Ddraig were interrupted by the Angels, Devils, and Fallen Angels. You see, the Biblical Faction was still caught up in the Great War at the time," Grayfia explained, briefly reaching up to tuck a silver strand behind her ear. "The Heavenly Pair did not appreciate this in the slightest, and therefore engaged the three individual leaders of the Biblical Trio. The resulting battle ended when both dragons had their bodies destroyed. A short time later, their souls were placed into two separate Sacred Gears; Ddraig became part of the Boosted Gear, while Albion was imprisoned in the Dividing Gear."
"Hmm… what about the Divine Pair? You hinted that they're also stronger than Tiamat."
"Indeed, I did," Grayfia nodded. "The Divine Pair are Great Red and the Ouroboros Dragon. The latter of the two is also commonly known as Ophis."
"Weird names," Ichigo acknowledged with an amused snort.
"Perhaps. Great Red is referred to as such simply because he has not deigned to share his true name with any other being. In fact, there is no known record of him ever speaking to anyone. Most call him Great Red simply because his other title is much more foreboding."
"And that would be…?"
"The Apocalypse Dragon. The last time he was in the World of the Living, he caused the eruption of Mount Fuji by accidentally sneezing just a bit too hard."
Well then…
Rather foreboding indeed.
Ichigo would be quite the happy fellow if he never had to interact with such a creature.
"And how powerful are they?" he inquired, already dreading the answer.
Grayfia offered him a humorless smile. "Ophis could easily destroy all four of the current Great Satans in under one minute, give or take a few seconds. Great Red could accomplish the same thing in less than five seconds. Together, they are regarded as the most powerful creatures in existence. I suppose Lord Chaos could challenge them, but it is often said that even he considers it to be worth too much trouble. And that is certainly saying something, considering Chaos is essentially omnipotent."
Quite suddenly, Aizen seemed a lot less threatening…
Swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat, Ichigo cast his gaze down towards the floor. A year ago, the biggest thing he'd had to worry about was passing his math test. Now there were all-powerful dragons and omniscient deities on his mind. Part of him wondered how the forces of Millennium would react if they knew just how insignificant they really were in the grand scheme of things.
"Is there any chance I might run into any of these dragons?" he asked quietly, looking back up to meet his godmother's eyes. "They sound cool and all, but I think I now have a dragon phobia…"
Grayfia chuckled, reaching forward to pat his right knee reassuringly. "The Divine pair are quite content to ignore the human world, so I doubt you'll see either of them any time in the near future. The Dragon Kings are also happy to stay within their established territories, so as long as you don't go running off in active search for them, you should be fine. However…"
"What?"
"I am fairly certain that Sirzechs mentioned something about Tiamat building her current nest somewhere in the Underworld. I am not sure where, but I would advise heavily against any excursions into any of the nearby forests."
"Thanks for the advice."
"You are most welcome. Now how about a late-night snack?"
"I didn't peg you as a midnight fridge raider…"
"Oh please. I know I might seem like an old-fashioned kind of woman, but even I occasionally feel the urge to indulge myself in some sweets and a glass of wine. I even have my own private bottle that I keep secret from my husband."
Ichigo grinned.
Grayfia was fun.
Sure, she was a bit strict, but what mother wouldn't be? She also fussed over his appearance, demanded that he eat properly, and implored him to understand the importance of proper hygiene. Of course, he was already eighteen-years-old, so he was already completely aware how necessary it was to stay clean and make smart dietary choices. But he still didn't have it in him to tell his godmother that her mothering was unnecessary.
In fact, he welcomed such mothering.
Part of him wondered whether or not his own mother would be acting the same way towards him if she were still alive…
That being said, Grayfia Lucifuge would never be able to replace Masaki Kurosaki. They were as different as chalk and cheese; where his mother had been warm and loving nearly all of the time, Grayfia was stern and composed. Even so, there were rare moments when her outer shell cracked open, and the Strongest Queen worried over him as if he were her own son.
And to Ichigo, those moments meant everything.
(Hellsing Manor; London, England)
The night had begun so promisingly.
Millennium's hour of triumph was at hand, and His Majesty would reward those who survived with whatever it was they desired most in the world. That fact alone had been enough to get Zorin excited. However, she had not anticipated that the Major would relegate her to taking care of the small fry while he and the remaining Sternritter brought London to its knees.
It wasn't fair…
She had been looking forward to this night for nearly sixty years. She had been itching to take part in a battle of the ages, not fight against ordinary humans who couldn't even give her a decent challenge. The Wild Geese might have been impressive by ordinary standards, but against her and her undead soldiers that might as well have been kindergarteners trying to fight against fully grown adults. They had seemingly run out of silver ammunition quite some time ago, and their remaining ordinary rounds were basically useless against vampires.
Zorin was actually half tempted to go actively searching for Seras Victoria. The blonde bitch had definitely earned her ire by shooting down her zeppelin. Maybe torturing her would improve her spirits…
At her side, her squad Sergeant fell to a knee. Reaching into his pack, he pulled out another rocket and loaded it into his handheld launcher. "First Lieutenant, their barrier has been obliterated. Shall we advance?"
"And give the Wild Geese a quick death? Hell no." Curling her lips up into a snarl, Zorin gripped the handle of her scythe tightly. A quick death would be far too merciful. Besides, letting the Wild Geese descend into hopelessness for a bit longer would make her feel better. "Those pathetic meat sacks have dishonored us by putting up such a pitiful resistance. No… I want them to suffer before being sent to their deaths. How many rockets do we have left?"
"Only the one currently loaded, Ma'am."
"Then use it to soften them up a bit more. When we enter that room, it had better be coated in guts and entrails, do you understand Sergeant? Blow those bastards to pieces!"
"Yes, Ma'am."
Doing as instructed, her subordinate raised the launcher's sight to his eye and aimed it down the hallway. However, as his finger moved towards the trigger to fire the weapon, his head suddenly exploded into a shower of blood and brain matter as an enormous round tore through his skull.
Biting out a curse, Zorin utilized her Hirenkyaku to dodge the additional projectiles that proceeded to completely decimate the rest of her soldiers. They all exploded into pieces as well, and their bodies quickly painted the walls and floor of the hallway. Dodging a final round, Zorin turned to glare hatefully at the bitch who was evidently stupid enough to interrupt what little fun she was having.
"Took you long enough…"
"Fuck you," Seras replied, snarling.
"Maybe if you hadn't destroyed my zeppelin," Zorin snorted, allowing her eyes to momentarily rove over the admittedly attractive body of Alucard's fledgling. If circumstances had been different, she wouldn't have minded taking the blonde back with her for a bit of fun. "But as it stands, I'm going to kill you. And just so you know, I am going to enjoy it very much."
"You're the only Nazi left standing. I'm pretty sure I can take you."
Zorin scowled. Flaring her spiritual energy, she blasted forward with another burst of Hirenkyaku. Her right fist came forward and violently slammed into Seras' stomach, launching the blonde down the hallway. The blonde buckled under the force of the blow, and a follow-up left hook sent her sailing backward into the nearest wall. "Arrogant little bitch… do you have any idea who you're fucking talking to?! Do you honestly think someone as pathetic as yourself could ever stand a chance against someone like me?"
Several rounds were fired out from the hole in the wall created by Seras' body, but Zorin still effortlessly dodged them. Blitzing through the incoming projectiles, she dashed forward and reached out with an open palm. As soon as she felt the appendage make contact with something solid, she squeezed with every ounce of strength her body possessed.
Something cracked.
Something popped.
Something shattered.
Seras released an agonized scream.
Zorin shivered in pleasure at the sound. Slowly running her tongue along her fangs, she pulled Seras out of the hole in the wall and raised the blonde above her head. With a feral snarl, she then slammed the younger woman into the floor with as much ferocity as she could muster. Once again, Seras cried out in pain as the force of the impact cracked both of her shoulder blades.
"Who the fuck do you think you're talking to, eh hündin?" Zorin sneered, kneeling down to bring herself into her hapless opponent's personal space. "I'm a motherfucking professional, you dumb cunt. I was snapping necks and cracking skulls before your grandparents even met… you might be Alucard's spawn, but you still lack proper experience." Hooking the blade of her scythe under Seras' left armpit, she gently ran the blade against the blonde's exposed skin.
Seras whimpered.
Zorin grinned.
With a swift and brutal pull, she pulled the scythe upward. The weapon carved a messy path through Seras' flesh. In a shower of gore, the younger vampire's arm fell free from the rest of her body. Copious amounts of blood pooled out from the open wound, and Zorin laughed richly as Seras fell into a broken sob of agony and terror.
"You thought you could beat me? Don't make me fucking laugh…" Raising her right boot, Zorin slammed it down onto her opponent's fresh wound. The bloodcurdling scream that followed brought her no end of personal satisfaction. "I was just going to kill you and get it out of the way, but now… now I think it might be just a bit more fun to stretch things out. "
The tattoos littering the right side of her body lit up with dark amethyst light, and Zorin willed the power of her Schrift to flow down her arm. The archaic glyphs etched into her skin slid down the appendage and onto Seras herself, where they entered her body through the first opening available to them. Some slipped up her nose and through her ears, while others forced their way into the blonde's ruined eyes.
Activating the gift bestowed upon her by His Majesty, Zorin grinned feral as she forced her way into the deepest corners of Seras Victoria's mind. "Now, let's see what we can find…"
She sifted through countless memories, searching for something that would completely and irrevocably break the quivering heap of flesh underneath her. She delved into repressed nightmares, forgotten fears, and abandoned dreams. However, it was only when she began looking through childhood memories that she finally found something worth exploiting. Seras had already come to terms with the series of events that led to her transformation into a vampire, but evidently there was one particular incident that had occurred when she was a girl that she had never managed to recover from…
"How very interesting…" Zorin sneered tauntingly, using her abilities to force Seras to subconsciously relive every single detail of the traumatic event. "Daddy was a police officer, was he? That's a damn good way to make a shitload of enemies in all the wrong places. But it looks like you figured that out a long time ago."
Seras choked out a broken sob, prompting Zorin to throw her head back in a laugh. With the power of her Schrift, she was able to behold everything within the activated memory. She watched through her victim's eyes as two armed men broke into the blonde's childhood home and gunned down her mother and father directly in front of her. She watched as one of the intruders ransacked the house, while the other went about violating the still-warm corpse of Seras' mother. She watched as the young blonde herself burst from her hiding place, wielding a screwdriver that was thrust ruthlessly into the eye of the desecrator.
In the physical world, Seras released a bloodcurdling scream of horror as she was forced to endure that which she had obviously done her best to repress for a good number of years. Using her weight to pin the thrashing blonde to the carpeted floor, Zorin raised her scythe and lightly pressed the very tip of the weapon's blade against the younger woman's chest.
"I told you, didn't I? You never fucking had a chance of beating me. You are nothing, you hear me? Nothing!" Applying the tiniest amount of force, Zorin forced her scythe's edge into the outermost layer of Seras' flesh. "And guess what, bitch? Now you're going to die like the little piggy you are. I'm going to cut you up and let you bleed to death— it's going to be slow, and I want to make sure you feel every last bit of it!"
A gunshot cracked from behind.
Zorin winced slightly as a blessed round slammed into the back of her head. Of course, her But Vene stopped the bullet from doing any real damage, but the force behind the impact felt akin to behind hit in the head with a sledgehammer. Baring her teeth, the orange-haired vampire slowly stood up and looked over her left shoulder. "You're either very brave… or very stupid."
Down the hallway, slumped against a wall for support, was Pip Bernadotte. The Frenchman was very evidently on his last legs, and it looked like he barely had the strength to hold his pistol. Nevertheless, Zorin felt herself commend him for the fire that still burned behind his eyes.
"Fuck you…" he spat breathlessly.
Grinning wickedly, Zorin allowed Seras to fall to the floor. The blonde curled up in a shivering heap, no longer aware of what was going on around her. Hefting her scythe, Zorin took a single step towards the commander of the Wild Geese.
"I'm actually glad you interrupted me," she said, licking her glistening fangs.
"Yeah?" Pip snorted. "And why is that?"
"Because I could use a snack break…"
When Ichigo opened his eyes, he was immediately aware of the fact that he was no longer in his bed back at Manor Lucifer.
A light breeze blew across his face, and the cries of numerous unidentified creatures echoed all around him. Sitting up, he quickly looked around to ascertaining his current whereabouts. A Capet of moss stretched out across the ground underneath him, and he appeared to be in a small grove of some kind. Blossoming trees and bushes surrounded him on all sides, and the flowers they produced were unlike anything he had ever seen before.
It didn't take him long to deduce that he was once again in Takama-ga-Hara…
Ichigo scowled.
He wasn't really in the mood to talk with Amaterasu.
But of course, being that the Lady of the Sun was a goddess, She likely wouldn't be satisfied with being denied what She wanted. So, with that in mind, Ichigo reluctantly hauled himself to his feet and stepped forward in a randomly chosen direction. The forest stretched out before him in a seemingly endless sea of emerald green, and he knew it would be a fool's errand to try an navigate it without a local guide. Placing his hands in the pockets of his pants, Ichigo turned his gaze skyward. The light shining down from the sun was barely able to pierce the canopy, but it would be enough.
He knew She would be able to hear him.
"Show me the way."
For a moment, nothing happened. However, before too long, the trees in front of him parted with an echoing creak. A small dirt pathway was revealed to him, and Ichigo assumed he was meant to follow. Taking a step forward, he began his trek through the undergrowth. The first step turned into another, then another. As he walked, the orange-head silently mulled over what he would say to Amaterasu when he finally saw Her again.
He wanted to yell.
He wanted to shout.
He wanted to rant and rave.
But he didn't want to be turned into a pile of ash.
It was clear that Amaterasu cared for him in Her own strange way, but Ichigo was willing to bet that even She had a limit to Her patience. Testing that limit likely wouldn't be a very good idea. That said, what would be the best way to break the tension that was sure to come? Should he just outright ask Amaterasu why She'd seen fit to manipulate him and repress his memories? Should he ask why, out of everyone in Japan, She had decided to interfere in his life the most?
Each was a question he wanted to know the answer to, but Ichigo wasn't exactly sure where he should start. Despite his anger with the Lady of the Sun, he knew he needed to approach the subject delicately. If he said the wrong thing or insulted Her in any way, Amaterasu could very well clamp up and refuse to give him any sort of explanation. In his current state, there wasn't really anything he could do about it if She decided to do so.
Glancing up from the pathway, Ichigo noted that he appeared to finally be approaching the edge of the forest. Whereas the environment around him was heavily shaded due to the presence of the trees, the area up in front seemed to be devoid of such shadows. Stepping over a fallen log and ducking under a low-hanging branch, the former Substitute finally left the forest behind. Squinting momentarily to shield his eyes from the sudden increase in sunlight, Ichigo surveyed the open area with no small amount of awe.
He was now at the edge of a cliff, and he could see a seemingly endless valley stretched out below. Up above, several floating mountains drifted lazily through the air. Thundering waterfalls flowed off of the levitating masses of land and into the open air, where they gradually turned into mist as they continued downward after several dozen hundred feet.
Despite his anger with Amaterasu, Ichigo still could not deny that her home was breathtakingly beautiful.
Tearing his gaze away from the landscape, he focused once more on the path. From where he was presently standing, it continued to stretch forward towards a relatively frail-looking wooden and rope bridge that in turn led up to one of the floating mountains. Hopefully, the residents of Takama-ga-Hara had the sense to regularly maintain the flimsy structure…
Breathing in heavily, Ichigo offered up a silent prayer as he walked forward and hesitantly placed his left foot on the first wooden plank. When it didn't immediately give way and fall thousands of feet to the ground below, he felt a little bit better. Gripping the rope handrails tightly, the orange-head took another step. His heart felt like it was in his mouth, but thankfully the bridge continued to stand strong. The rest of the climb upwards was not a very long one, but it was still one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of Ichigo's young life.
Fortunately, he was back on solid ground a little over a minute later.
Wiping a small amount of sweat from his brow, Ichigo continued forward along the path. Eventually, after several more minutes of walking, he rounded a final corner and reached yet another clearing. It was much larger than the once he'd woken up in, and housed what appeared to be a rather typical Japanese garden. A heavily maintained rock garden was off to one side, and he could also see a large koi pond behind it. However, most of the space was occupied by a cluster of medium-sized cherry blossom trees. Their bright pink petals shook gently in the breeze, and several drifted around through the air aimlessly.
And in the middle of it all, sitting on a moss-covered rock, was Amaterasu Herself.
Garbed in a flowing white kimono and bright red obi, She looked as beautiful as ever. Still, despite the kind and motherly smile She wore, Ichigo knew the woman in front of him could be just as devious and conniving as the most corrupt nobles in Soul Society. Fighting the urge to scowl as he walked forward, he settled for maintaining a look of utter neutrality.
Coming to a stop several feet away from Her, Ichigo folded his arms over his chest and fixed the Lady of the Sun with an expectant look. "You summoned me here for a reason, right? What is it?"
Amaterasu's kind smile grew somewhat frail. "Come now, Ichigo. Surely, We do not need a reason to speak with Our most favored child, do We?"
"What do you want?"
Shoulders slumping, Amaterasu breathed out heavily. "We are aware that Sirzechs revealed several things to you that We wish could have been left unsaid. We also understand that you are undoubtedly angry with Us. But please, Ichigo, know that everything We do is done with a reason."
Ichigo felt his lip curl, but restrained himself from shouting. Even so, he allowed himself to raise his voice just a bit. "What possible reason could you have for erasing my memories? You violated my mind, you know that right? You had Yamamoto go inside my head and force me to forget my experiences in Hell! And for what? Were you jealous? Were you afraid that I would find out about the other Factions?"
"We are certain that you already know the answer to that question. But yes, We were afraid. We were afraid that We would be doomed to lose yet another beloved grandchild. You cannot even begin to comprehend how terrifying of an idea that is… not until you have children of your own someday."
"That isn't an excuse! I'm my own person, and goddess or not, you have no right to dictate how I live my life!"
Amaterasu's sorrowful expression suddenly turned chillingly neutral, and Ichigo felt a shiver run down his spine at the positively stony look in her hazel eyes. Those eyes snapped down to the empty space next to her on the boulder. "Come sit with me, Ichigo."
"I think I'm good…"
"T'was not a request, child. SIT."
Divine authority filled her voice as she spoke the final word, and Ichigo immediately felt himself compelled to obey. Like a child who'd just been reprimanded by their parent, he slowly walked forward. Hesitant to look Amaterasu in the eye, he kept his gaze trained on the mossy carpet beneath his feet as he approached the boulder. Lowering himself into a sitting position next to the goddess, the orange-head allowed Her to reach up and slowly run a hand through his hair.
"You are not the first child that We have favored," She said conversationally, gently massaging his scalp with Her fingers. "Many centuries ago, We had another grandson. He was much like you in his youth, and he sought to right all of the wrongs that he saw in the world. Of course, given his human nature, he was unable to do much on a very grand scale. Therefore, in Our blind love and adoration for his idealism, We bestowed upon him a gift. A power with the potential to change the very future itself."
"It didn't work out, did it?" Ichigo surmised quietly.
Amaterasu sighed. "No, unfortunately it did not. At first, Our grandson used his new gift to prevent disasters and events of extreme misfortune. However, as time went on, he began to shape the future to meet his own goals, instead of helping those around him. He became arrogant, prideful, and corrupt. He transformed from a sweet little boy into a madman who waged war against Soul Society itself… and all because of Us. It was Our gift that corrupted him and drove him away from the path of light. We have already lost one beloved grandson, Ichigo. We do not think we can lose another…"
The brokenness in Her tone surprised him.
Up until this point, Ichigo had assumed that Amaterasu had chosen to meddle in his life simply because She had the power to do so. She was a goddess, and no one from the mortal realm could really stop Her if She chose to involve Herself in their affairs. However, in his anger with Her, he acknowledged that he had forgotten that She was also something else as well…
A mother.
A mother who wanted nothing but the best for her children.
"We see much of him in you," She spoke again. There was a hitch in her voice, and Ichigo couldn't help but feel just a small amount of guilt. "You share his resolve and tenacity. You would move mountains for those you care for, and he would have done the same in his youth. But you must understand… it is because of those similarities that We were afraid of losing you as well. You are such a wonderful child, Ichigo, and it would break Our heart to see you fall into darkness. We want to see you grow and prosper. We want to see you become the man We have always known you were meant to be. But We… We want to be a part of that journey…"
For several long moments, Ichigo remained completely silent as he mulled over what he'd just been told. On one hand, he was still incredibly angry with Amaterasu for having ordered the erasure of his memories. He was his own person, and he wanted to be able to live his life without any outside interference.
On the other hand, though, he somewhat understood Her reasoning. He knew how it felt to lose someone incredibly precious, and he wouldn't voluntarily wish that feeling upon anyone. He'd lost his mother, and Amaterasu had lost one of Her other grandchildren. Ichigo had come to terms with the death of his mother quite some time ago, but he couldn't even begin to imagine how a deity would cope with such a loss. Being immortal, Amaterasu's concept of time was likely far more elaborate than his own. It stood to reason that it would likely take Her much longer to deal with extreme emotional experiences.
"I don't forgive you…"
Her fingers clenched his hair tightly.
Ichigo continued. "I don't forgive you for messing with my memories, and I doubt I ever will. You authorized the violation of my most private thoughts, and that isn't something that can be easily written off with an apology."
"We understand if you hate us…"
"I don't hate you. I'm still incredibly pissed, but I've never felt any kind of hatred towards you. You'll have to work hard to rebuild my trust. But if you're willing to do that, then maybe I can have faith in you again one day."
Amaterasu breathed out a heavy sigh. It was a sound mixed with resignation and relief. "Very well, child. If you are willing to allow Us the chance, then We would be more than happy to redeem Ourself in your eyes. We know it might take some time, but thankfully We have plenty of decades to spare."
Ichigo nodded lightly, rising back up into a sitting position to look the Lady of the Sun in the eye. "I'm glad we understand each other."
"As are We. However, as much as We would love to continue this conversation, it appears as though your presence is required in the physical realm."
His brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Amaterasu smiled cheekily. Reaching out with Her right hand, She placed the tip of Her index finger against the very center of his forehead. "You shall have to go and figure that out for yourself, little one. Just remember that as long as the sun shines in the Heavens above, you will always have the support of Takama-ga-Hara."
Golden light engulfed Her finger, and Ichigo felt radiant energy move from the digit into his own body. Almost instantaneously, his entire body felt incredibly heavy, and a sense of tiredness enveloped his mind. Despite his best attempts to fight the exhaustion, he slumped forward until his head was once again resting in his grandmother's lap.
In the next instant, he was out cold.
(The Underworld; Gremory Territory)
"…ake up! Ichigo, WAKE UP!"
Eyes blinking open blearily, Ichigo winced at the loud voice shouting directly in his face. It took a moment for his senses to properly return to him, but when they did, he was finally able to register that Yoruichi was standing over him. Her hands gripped his shoulders tightly, and it felt as if he was being shaken like a rag doll.
"Yoruichi?" he asked groggily. "Ugh… what's wrong?"
"London is under attack!"
"What?!" Ichigo swore he felt his heart stop. A million thoughts raced through his head all at once, but they were all largely overshadowed by the immense guilt that rapidly tore its way into the pits of his stomach. He didn't even have to ask to know that Millennium was likely the one responsible. "What happened?"
Shaking her head, Yoruichi backpedaled towards the entrance to the room. "I have no idea. Grayfia and I were sharing a drink in one of the sitting rooms when a servant rushed in to tell us the news. Grayfia is with Sirzechs right now, and he wants you to come to his office at once. I'll meet you there, so you'd best get dressed." Without another word, she disappeared through the doorway.
Listening as her footsteps rapidly faded away down the hallway, Ichigo launched himself out of bed and raced over to the closet. All but tearing off the sweatpants he was wearing, he pulled out a pair of jeans, a plain white shirt, and a dark black jacket. Putting on each article of clothing in record time, he grabbed his phone and wallet off of the desk before rushing out the door and down the hall. Despite the amount of time he'd been down in the Underworld, Ichigo still had no idea where Sirzechs' personal study was, but that wasn't really too much of an issue.
Following the trail of his godfather's Demonic Power was laughably easy.
Sirzechs was pissed.
Terrifyingly so, in fact.
Ichigo briefly allowed himself to wonder whether or not Sirzechs was even aware of the effect his aura had on the world around him. It felt like a miniature black hole was steadily growing larger within the confines of Manor Lucifer, threatening to devour everything in its path. Ignoring the instinctual fear clawing at the back of his mind, Ichigo turned a sharp corner and continued his sprint down the next hallway. Up ahead, a large pair of oaken doors took up a large portion of the wall. Sirzechs' energy signature felt like it was right on the other side, and the orange-head skidded to a halt just before he collided with the entryway.
Breathing in heavily to somewhat compose himself, Ichigo wasted no time in reaching up for the door handles. Entering the room without so much as a knock to announce his presence, the former Shinigami was almost brought to his knees under the intense pressure emanating from the crimson-haired man sitting behind the desk at the opposite end of the room.
Gasping desperately for air, Ichigo nearly retched onto the floor as a sulfuric stench invaded his nostrils. Through watering eyes, he looked up towards the other individuals already assembled. Grayfia was standing behind her husband's chair; her hands were on his shoulders, and it seemed as though she was desperately doing her best to calm him down. Though her own Demonic Power was considerable, it was obvious that even she was feeling the effects of Sirzechs' rage.
Yoruichi was faring no better. The amethyst-haired woman was absolutely drenched in sweat, and it looked like she was doing her best to simply remain standing. Her legs were shaking, and her jaw was clenched tightly.
Sucking in a deep lungful of air, Ichigo carefully returned to an upright stance and looked towards his godfather. The sheer fury held in Sirzechs' gaze nearly made him look away, and he fought to maintain eye contact. "W-What happened…?"
"That's what I'd like to know," the Crimson Satan replied. The usual mirth and lightheartedness in his tone was completely gone. "How in the name of The Pit did a battalion of undead soldiers manage to sneak into the heart of London without anyone in power noticing? I'm almost tempted to consider the possibility of treachery…"
"You think someone within the Three Factions is helping Millennium?"
"It is certainly a possibility, and I will personally be investigating at a later date. For now, however, I believe we should focus on the immediate matter at hand. London is burning. Thousands are already dead, and more keep pouring into the Afterlife with each passing minute. My position is one often associated with darkness and sin, but even I can recognize pure evil when I see it."
"From what we have been able to gather, the majority of Millennium's fighting force is concentrated in London itself," Grayfia spoke up, continuing to massage her husband's shoulders. "However, according to reports given by human associates within the city, a smaller group of vampires was dispatched to Hellsing Manor, led by one Zorin Blitz."
Ichigo's eyes widened. "They went straight for Hellsing?! I have to go back!"
"And do what…?"
All eyes travelled to Sirzechs, and the blue-eyed Satan released a snort. "What will you do when you get there, Ichigo? I don't know what you plan to do, but I can surely tell you what will happen if I send you there as you are. You will die, just like all of the other defenseless humans. You might fight valiantly, but the fact of the matter is that you stand no chance against experienced vampires… let alone Quincies."
The orange-head scowled. "I don't care! Send me ba-"
"BITE YOUR TONGUE!"
"Sirzechs!" Grayfia admonished sharply.
Flinching back at the unexpected outburst, Ichigo watched as his godfather ignored his wife's interjection and rose to his feet. The look in Sirzechs' eyes was absolutely petrifying. Ichigo hadn't felt so small since he'd first experienced the true raw power of Captain Commander Yamamoto.
Resting his knuckles against the surface of his desk, the Crimson Satan leaned forward. "I refuse to send you to your death, do you hear me? When you were born, your mother and father entrusted your care to me and Grayfia should something ever happened to them both. Masaki is gone, and seeing as how Isshin is not here to give his opinion, I will expect you to respect my decisions as if I were your father."
Ichigo met the older man's gaze.
They stared at one another in silence for several moments, until finally the former Shinigami decided to break it. "You may have the power to keep me here, but I don't think you want to do that. If you force me to sit back and let my friends die, I will never forgive you…"
Sirzechs' eyes narrowed, and the chaotic Demonic Power radiating from his body nearly quadrupled. Grayfia let out a gasp as she was forced back towards the window, and Yoruichi heaved violently as she was brought to her knees. However, just as quickly as the swell of power appeared, it evaporated into thin air just as swiftly.
Letting out a heavy sigh, Sirzechs fell back into his chair and reached up to massage the bridge of his nose. "You make a very fair point, brat. Embittering you to me would certainly not be in my best interests. Still, I still cannot exactly let you charge into the fray with nothing but hopeful optimism to back you up. What are you willing to do to save your friends? What are you willing to sacrifice?"
Ichigo's expression hardened. "Anything."
Once again, his godfather let out a snort. "That honorable heart is going to get you into a lot of trouble one of these days…"
Raising his right hand, Sirzechs snapped his fingers. Instantaneously, a small tear in space, roughly the circumference of a grapefruit, appeared in the air next to his shoulder. Sticking his arm into the portal, the red-haired devil fished around for several moments before finally withdrawing the limb. Held in his grasp was an elaborately decorated black box, carved from ivory.
Ichigo's eyes snapped towards Grayfia when the latter let out a sharp gasp. "Sirzechs, you can't be serious! The political ramifications alone-"
"Can be dealt with at a later date. Right now, Ichigo needs an unmatched advantage if he wants to have any chance of surviving." Placing the box on his desk, Sirzechs unlatched the lock keeping it closed and opened it up. "Do you know what this is, Ichigo?"
Peering into the container, the orange-head was quickly able to make out an assortment of ebony chess pieces. "Its… a chess set…?"
"Technically, yes," Sirzechs grinned. "To be more precise, however, these are known as Evil Pieces. My darling wife has already informed you of what they can do, correct?"
These were Evil Pieces?
They certainly didn't look as impressive as he'd been expecting…
"They can reincarnate different species into devils, right?"
Sirzechs nodded. "Right you are."
"You… you want me in your Peerage?"
"What? Goodness no. Having a family member as part of my Peerage would be unsightly for a Great Satan. Grayfia is the exception since she was my Queen long before we were married. No… I am offering to turn you into a devil, but I've decided to throw in a set of Evil Pieces to sweeten the deal."
"What the hell would you get out of this?"
"Not much, to be quite honest with you," Sirzechs admitted freely. "If you choose to accept my offer, I will undoubtedly get in substantial trouble for illegally giving you a set of Pieces without proper permission from the Pillars. However, it would be a lie to say that I'm doing this simply out of the kindness of my heart. Amaterasu kept you to Herself for nearly seventeen years… turning you into a devil would be a personally satisfying middle finger to that."
"I never pegged you as the vindictive type…"
Sirzechs grinned. "I'm a devil, Ichigo… heir to the Fallen Star himself. Being vindictive is simply part of my nature that I hide well."
Swallowing thickly, Ichigo turned his gaze back down to the ivory box. The pieces held within practically thrummed with power. Soft whispers in his ear begged for them to be utilized on the field of battle. Those whispers were violently drowned out as he felt his Inner Hollow roar within the depths of his soul, urging him forward.
"Tempting, aren't they?" Sirzechs tapped a finger against his desk idly. "The Queen is worth nine Pawns, and possesses all of the varying characteristics of the remaining pieces. The two Rooks are each worth five Pawns, and grant increased strength to whomever they are used on. The Bishops are worth three Pawns, and grant their recipients enhanced magical power. Likewise, the Knights are also worth the same amount; they, however, bestow increased speed."
"What about the Pawns?"
"Ah. Very special indeed. Pawns, though not very powerful initially, have the ability to promote themselves to a higher ranking with the permission of their King. For example, if you wanted to promote a Pawn to a Queen within enemy territory, it would make for a very nice surprise attack."
Ichigo fell silent.
Internally, he had no idea what to do. On one hand, the obvious choice would be to accept his godfather's offer and use his new power to save his friends and the rest of London. However, a very selfish part of him wanted to deny Sirzechs and remain human. How would his life change if he became a devil? Would he ever be able to return to Soul Society? Would he be allowed back in Japan at all? Lady Amaterasu clearly had an issue with outsiders, but after their most recent encounter, he wasn't sure if Her reservations would extend to him as well. Based on what She had said, her most intense fear was to see him fall to darkness.
Would being a devil equate to that…?
He… he didn't think so.
Even if he did allow himself to be reincarnated, he would still be the same person inside. No matter what he was, be it human, Shinigami, or devil, he would always be Ichigo Kurosaki. And no amount of outside influence would ever be able to change that.
Casting a glance towards his former mentor, Ichigo sent her a pleading look. "What do you think I should do…?"
Yoruichi breathed in steadily, closing her eyes. After a moment, she opened them once more and met his gaze. "I think you should do whatever you think is right. This is your choice to make, Ichigo."
"She is right," Sirzechs spoke up, drawing Ichigo's attention. "This is your decision, and I will not force you to do anything you do not want to. However, you do need to make up your mind before all of London is reduced to a pile of cinders and corpses."
Ichigo inhaled deeply.
His eyes locked on the black box.
(Hellsing Manor; London, England)
The pain was unlike anything he'd ever known.
Choking on the blood that was steadily filling his lungs, Pip cried out in agony as the blade of the Sternritter's enormous scythe punctured clean through his abdomen from behind. He could feel the vertebrae in his spine gaining against the metal. He could feel his ribs shattering as the tip of the weapon erupted from his chest cavity.
Coughing up a considerable amount of blood. the commander of the Wild Geese gnashed his teeth in agony as he was hefted off of his feet and into the air. Behind him, the orange-haired vampire bitch cackled like a deranged hyena.
"You're so fucking pathetic!" she sneered, bouncing him up and down on her scythe. Pip nearly vomited in pain as the blade cut down into his stomach. "You're just a fucking human. The only threat here was the Police Girl, and she turned out to be such a gottverdammt disappointment. I waited over seventy years for this day! The least you maggots could have done was give me a proper welcome!"
"S-Suck… my… cock…"
"I don't swing that way. Sorry to disappoint."
However, she did swing her scythe again.
The blade was torn free from his body roughly, and Pip nearly felt himself black out from the pain as he was flung down the hallway. Colliding with a fallen beam, he helplessly slumped to the floor in a broken and bloody heap. There was no doubt in his mind that he would be dead within the next few minutes. His body was beyond any kind of medical help, and there was no way he would be able to kill the bitch all on his own. Still, he wasn't about to let himself die on the floor.
With no small amount of effort, the Frenchman slowly dragged himself back up to a standing position. Granted, he was forced to lean on the wooden beam for support, but he was no longer sitting on his ass. Locking eyes with the Nazi vampire as she steadily approached, Pip shakily reached into his overcoat and withdrew a pack of cigarettes.
Placing one between his lips, he leaned to the side and lit it on a piece of flaming debris. "You're going to lose… you know that, right?"
"Oh really? And what makes you say that?"
Snorting, Pip puffed out a cloud of smoke. "You might be able to kill me and my boys, but it won't really amount to much in your favor. Alucard and Miss Hellsing are still out there, and so is Ichigo. And you had better pray to God in Heaven that you're able to take out Seras before she gets her mojo back."
The bitch threw back her head and laughed. "Are you fucking serious?! You think the Hellsing bitch will be able to put up any kind of a fight? You think the Police Girl will even be able to form a coherent sentence after what I just did to her? I think the pain is making you delusional. We have plans for Alucard, and the Kurosaki runt will be dealt with in time. I'd say we have nothing to worry about."
"Then you're an even bigger fool than I thought."
With a snarl, she lashed out and punched his open wound. Pip grunted as he felt something inside of him instantly liquify. Even so, he refused to give his tormentor the satisfaction of hearing him cry out in pain again.
She raised her left foot, and kicked forward violently.
His right kneecap shattered.
Her right fist crashed into the side of his face.
His bottom jaw was knocked out of place.
Dropping her scythe, she reached into his chest cavity and gripped his spine. Pip produced an absolutely inhuman sound of agony as she raised him into the air. "You are nothing! Do you hear me?! NOTHING!"
Despite his broken jaw and the severe amount of pain he was experiencing, the Commander of the Wild Geese merely chuckled. His opponent roared in fury, slamming him down onto the floor and finally rendering his legs completely useless. Collapsing to the floor, Pip continued to chuckle even as she raised both arms over her head to cave in his skull.
"DIE! Die and rot in hell!"
Her fists came racing down towards his head.
He closed his eyes.
And then he felt it…
A dark pulse of energy engulfed the hallway, and continued to expand until it filled every available space in the mansion. A sulfuric stench filled the air, and Pip heard the Sternritter standing above him gag violently. Opening his eyes, he looked down the hall.
At the far end, a small black flame flickered ominously. It was tinged with specks of red, and the area around it slowly disintegrated as in gradually grew in size. Paint peeled from the walls, furniture burst into flame, and curtains vaporized instantaneously. The flame continued to grow larger until it was about the size of a beach ball.
Then it exploded.
Pip was forced to close his eyes tightly as a rush of heat washed over him. A surprised cry came from above, followed by a distant thud, indicating that the orange-haired vampire had been knocked off her feet by the explosion. Cautiously opening his eyes, Pip nearly pissed himself at the sight he beheld. Where there had once been nothing but a flickering flame, there was now a column of midnight-black fire, easily as wide as the length of a car. The roof of the mansion had been blown clean off, and the pillar of flame extended upward into the night sky as far as the eye could see.
And yet, as the flames flickered and roared, the Frenchman swore he could make out two silhouettes standing within the inferno. Perhaps the pain was making him hallucinate, but it sincerely looked like the devil himself had come to unleash Hell on Earth.
Then, with no warning whatsoever, the column of fire disappeared.
Pip's eyes widened momentarily, but a breath of relief quickly escaped him.
For standing in the ruined hallway, garbed in robes of ebony, was Ichigo Kurosaki. Wooden sandals adorned his feet, and an enormous sword shaped like a cleaver was slung across his back. His orange hair, short as it was, whipped back and forth in the wind.
An ebony-skinned woman stood next to him, just as tall and proud. She wore a black sleeveless undershirt, an orange overshirt, and black stretch pants. A beige sash was wrapped around her waist, and her purple hair, which was tied up into a high ponytail, swayed in the wind as well. Whoever she was, if she was with Ichigo, then hopefully she was a friend.
Pip grinned as best he could as a new surge of confidence filled him.
Confident that the situation could now be handled without him, the Frenchman gently closed his eyes. As he did so, he briefly locked gazes with Ichigo. The younger man's eyes were hard, and looked to be chipped from stone.
And they burned gold.
And there we have it.
I know there will be people who will be disappointed or upset with the fact that I've turned Ichigo into a devil, but I intended to do so from the very beginning of this story. He has been reincarnated into a devil, and that is not going to change any time soon. However, before too many people start jumping on me about this choice, let me explain my reasoning.
First of all, even though Ichigo is now a devil, he still has his Shinigami powers.
Multiple individuals in the DxD canon have been shown to retain a good deal of their prior supernatural abilities even after being reincarnated. For example, Akeno is still able to utilize the Holy Lightning that her family line of Fallen Angels is known for. There are also heaps of other characters, such as Yuuto and Xenovia, who are able to use holy weapons even though they are currently devils.
So yeah, to make a long explanation much shorter, Ichigo DOES still have access to his Hollow and Shinigami powers. He also has his Quincy powers, but they will be somewhat reduced now that he is a devil. Powers of light and dark contrast heavily, and now that Ichigo is a creature of darkness, his Quincy abilities have taken a bit of a blow. However, guess what being a devil means for his Hollow powers…?
I suppose you'll just have to find out.
Now then, with that topic out of the way, I would like to once again apologize for how long I've been away from my stories. My family took a trip shortly after my last update, but we were heavily isolated from other people. Then, my girlfriend bought me Skyrim for my birthday when we got back, so I admittedly got a little distracted with that. Then, of course, I had to go back to work to make some money for the fall when I go back to school.
So yeah, these past few months have been a bit hectic.
I want to thank you all for your patience.
Also, I recently realized that "Bloodstained Souls" is finally nearing one thousand followers! I know there are plenty of stories out there with well over 5k+ and 10k+ followers, but this is still a very big deal for me. It means so much to me that you guys have found my story enjoyable, and I don't think there are enough words of gratitude I can offer. However, with that being said, I have decided to do something special once we finally reach one-thousand readers.
I will be writing and publishing a series of short stories related to "Bloodstained Souls." Nothing about them will be canon to the main storyline, but it will still be fun to do. Additionally, all of these short stories will be lemons…
That's right! The lewd train is finally leaving the station!
There will be sex scenes in the main story later on down the line, so I want to practice writing good lemons before actually including any in the canon material. Therefore, I will be taking requests for who you guys want to see Ichigo get down and dirty with. It can be any female character from "Bloodstained Souls," be it Rip van Winkle or Balalaika. So submit your requests now!
Once again, thank you so much for reading!
AlucardsBro OUT!