FLASHBACK
Why did he do it?
If he could take it back, would he?
Life could never be perfect. But he wishes had had another chance.
"Kurosaki-san, please, tell me, how did they… take it?"
Ichigo looked over to Urahara and replied, "I should have let you do it. Why do I keep messing up? I… I would give up my life just to say sorry. Just for him to hear it." He clutched his chest. It was painful. Not just emotionally, but physically. He wanted to cry, but he would not allow himself to, "That man cared about me more than I could have possibly imagined….
And I killed him."
Kisuke felt his pain and was sympathetic to the young man, "Kurosaki-san… you can't hold all of the blame. You said it yourself, didn't you? Juhabach had manipulated your memories, and intentionally made you feel certain ways that you didn't. You only felt positive memories toward your sisters because they were Quincy. That old man wouldn't have let you remember the love you had for your father." Ichigo continued listening, "I will talk to Karin and Yuzu. And… it is my fault. We shouldn't have told them this early. They're normal kids, Kurosaki-san…"
That's right.
They're normal.
Normal humans with normal lives.
Ichigo gave a shameful, fake smile in return, "You know, when this war began, I thought it was such a noble cause. A purge against the oppressors, the ones who committed genocide, the ones who tolerate evil, the hollows. However, we never learned about our own history. Our mistakes. Our shame. I was so convinced we were victims."
"Well, it is true that the Quincy had suffered in the first war. Badly. That isn't wrong." Urahara sighed, "The Shinigami at the time were… ruthless. If anything, that war taught the Gotei 13 how to not act. It's for that reason the Quincy weren't persecuted past the wars end. They always knew where they were in the human world, but orders were to not bother them."
"I'm not sure if you've ever heard of him, but Yamamato Genryusai was alive for the first war." Ichigo looked down with a frown. He strongly remembers that man, "In his room was a portrait of an ancient monster that terrorized the Soul Society before it was the Gotei 13."
"It was this legendary powerful beast which annihilated everything in its path. Enemies, allies, friends, family, it didn't matter. It was there for order, and if you didn't comply, you were dead."
The teen looked at the Shinigami and asked, "What happened to it? Did Yamamto kill it? That would explain him being the Captain-Commander for over 1,000 years." Being a high-ranking member of the Wandenreich, Ichigo did have intel on many Shinigami. But it was controlled intel. Yhwach didn't want everyone knowing everything, so, he only revealed only the most severe characteristics about individuals.
"No." Kisuke answered.
"He was the monster."
A surprised expression came onto Ichigo's face. He, of course, had heard only bad things about the man from Yhwach. But from his own logic, he assumed the man had some strong qualities since he was the person who originally founded the Gotei 13. Whether it was strength, or humility, or respect.
"I'm sure you know of it. But Shigekuni Yamamoto Genryusai was a terrible person in his youth. To simply put, a mass-murderer. But toward the end of the first Quincy-Shinigami war, he changed. What made him change? I've studied the history of this for a long time. And I'm confident to know why all this happened."
Ichigo was intrigued, he listened to the tale.
"The last battle of the war. It was a slaughter." The man stated bluntly, "Yamamoto and the captains of the original Gotei 13 were enough to finish of Juhabach's last retreating army. But as the Captain-Commander finished slaughtering almost all of the Quincy, he stopped. Yhwach at the time was a young man. A kid. I can only assume this was when Yamamoto changed from a merciless killer, to the man he was at the time of his death."
Ichigo asked, "He let Yhwach live. And because of that… all this happened. My friends, my father, my mother, all the dead Quincy and Shinigami all because of that mercy."
Kisuke frowned and nodded, "Do you understand what I am trying to say, Kurosaki?" The Quincy didn't react, "You can't be sulked into guilt forever. You won't. Imagine what Genryusai-sama was feeling at the time of his death. Don't let Yhwach become a loose end."
"I wish you could have trained me. I wish things were different."
"We all do, Kurosaki-san." Kisuke replied, "But they can't be different. I've known your father for a very long time. You and I here, plotting to defeat Yhwach. That's what he would have wanted."
Ichigo was starting to feel somewhat better, "When I fought him, he knew who I was. I told him to go home. To leave the fight. But he wouldn't leave. He knew he had to fight…"
"Isshin would never abandon his comrades. And it appears, at least, for the good comrades, you never abandoned her either." Kisuke's words strung deep into Ichigo. He was sad, but was smiling at the thought. It was true. He had not run away from Bambietta's problems because deep inside he knew Bambietta did not deserve the fate which would have come.
Ichigo did the right thing. And even if he never really knew his dad. He could safely say, like father like son.
"Yuzu and Karin hate me. They don't want to see me. They didn't say it outright, but… I just know they can't handle this. I'm such an idiot" The teen confessed, "And I don't blame them. But I hope one day, far into the future. They will… forgive me. But only time will tell."
Urahara for the first time in a while, actually smiled, "They're strong and mature. I don't expect it will be easy for them, but they will know at least that, in the end, you did the right thing. And that you wouldn't let Yhwach kill them or end this world."
Ichigo and Bazz-B
Fighting side by side.
Just like the old days.
"We're going to Kill Yhwach... and then we're going to kill that traitor Jugo!"
They both remembered it. Back when Ichigo had first met Bazz. All those years ago.
"Getsuga... Tenshou!" Ichigo yelled. Yhwach watched as an oncoming black abyss crashed into him. The reiryoku was so dense and dark, it was difficult for him to repel it. The Quincy teen was always a formidable foe, but now, with acknowledging and taking possession of his Shinigami side, he has gotten even stronger. Juha bit his thumb and slammed his into the ground. A sudden, clear and blue reishi half dome formed all around. Successfully blocking all of the new oncoming pressure, "Boo." said a voice from behind. Surprised, the elder Quincy turned around and was meat with an immense greatsword slashing down onto his chest. Blood spilling within the Blut Vene Anhaben.
"Get out of the way" Bazz demanded, "Burning Finger 1!" A narrow beam of concentrated fiery-reishi shot out from his hand. Yhwach emerged from the attack and merely blocked the attack with his bare hand, "Piece of shit!" The former "Heat" felt a swift punch to the face but quickly grabbed onto the assailant, "Burning Finger 2" At short range, the flames ignited Yhwach. The heat was so unbearable he was forced to disperse away from the two.
"Heilig Pfeil," Ichigo uttered. Using his arm-infused bow, the hybrid began blasting off multiple, powerful, pitch black holy arrows. Yhwach grabbed his sword and quickly slashed away at them, only to see his sword flow right through it. Then, once the arrows appeared to be close, managed to pierce his shoulder, "Looks like I wasn't as important you as you thought. You don't even know my own powers."
Yhwach replied with an attack, "Sankt Bogen!" Forming at the edge of this world was an enormous bow which quickly aimed toward the three. Ichigo didn't need to tell Bazz to dodge those massive arrows. The hard part wasdodging them. They shot directly toward the palace, causing tons of collateral damage which breached through the entire building. Both were able to dodge in time, but the attacks weren't meant for killing. Yhwach appeared before Ichigo and grabbed him by the neck. The teen could see in the corner of his eye's markings appearing on the man's forearm, "Sankt Altar!" An explosion of spiritual pressure and reishi flooded the bridge they were fighting on.
"Bazz! Destroy the orbs on the end, he's going to try and steal our power!" Ichigo knows this technique. He witnessed its use in the past. Back when Yhwach used other Quincy to subdue rebellions or those unwilling to submit to the Wandenreich. Bazz didn't like taking orders but did not argue.
"Are you implying I never cared about you? You were the closest I've ever had to a son."
Ichigo stepped in front of Yhwach and used his reishi to control the man's shadow. The black figurine soon emerged and quickly began tangling itself onto the emperor, "No, I don't. But I did learn something from my mistakes." The Shinigami grabbed his Zanpakuto and once again, roared, "Getsuga... TENSHOU!" The pitch-black energy was able to break through Yhwach's Blut Vene.
Meanwhile, Bazz was quickly dealing with the Sankt Altar. The man used burning stomp to quickly disintegrate everything around him. He looked over to see the two combating, sword to sword. Grinning, he decided to join in, "Burning Finger 4!"
Yhwach blocked an attack from Ichigo, but felt the burning sensation of Bazz's attack from behind. It felt so good to land a powerful hit onto the man. Its ignition melted the Blut Vene and landed a critical hit.
The Quincy emperor leaped back and squeezed his fist. A bright, yellow light suddenly flew from the ground up and infused itself into the Quincy. Ichigo lowered his eyes, "How many Sternritter did you have to kill to heal those wounds?"
Yhwach taunted, "Who knows? Who cares? All Quincy are there for my sake. So that I, could succeed in this world."
It hurt to hear, but the teen didn't bother showing any anger, "I regret not becoming your successor. Not taking a stronger lead role, earlier on."
"So, do I. I groomed you for it. But now what? What do you plan to do after this?" The emperor replied.
Ichigo actually smiled, "I plan to take your role as leader of the Quincy. I will ensure that my comrades will not be forced into this situation, ever again. I will be the protector of all Quincy, and you will be known as the man who brought us to near destruction... again." The last part stung the emperor. He knows fully well that the first war, which was not started by the Quincy, had made Yhwach look like a failure among his people. He closed his eyes and began circulating spiritual pressure throughout his body.
Yhwach slowly opened his eyes, "Well then... why don't I just tell you how that will go?" Ichigo noticed the change of pupils in his eyes. He could recall them almost instantly. Those eyes... those were the same eyes he saw when the teen had first met the elder Quincy all those years ago. When he claimed he could see his future, and that he would be the greatest ally, or biggest enemy.
"You believe that you, can do better than I, the Almighty Quincy?" He asked with a grin, "Let's just see how you would handle these situations then."
"Look, look, look, kid… I get it… you have a hot babe, and you want to run away from home. Believe me, I know what it is like."
Uryu Ishida stood with his body ready. Behind him was his friend, Inoue. Who he felt, at the time of being recruited into the Wandenreich, wasn't safe being left in the human world. Oh, how he had come to regret that decision. Still, he had to keep her safe.
Askin Nakk Le Vaar took a deep sigh, "Not going to say anything? I'm not here to fight you. In fact, I don't even want to fight. I just came to tell you that your dad, who is kind of an asshole, wants you to come home. That's it."
Ishida was skeptical, but the man does give off a very relaxed and smooth aura. The teen sighed, "I didn't come here to actually be a successor to the Wandenreich. In all honestly, I'm not sure why he gave me this role anyways. I only accepted because I was afraid what the repercussions might be for refusing. I know my father is worried, and I took that into consideration."
Askin raised an eyebrow, "So, what's the problem?"
"I came to stop Yhwach."
…
The "Death-Dealing" sighed, "Well… that's what we came here for!"
Uryu replied, "It's not that simple. I have to perfectly time when I strike. Otherwise, it will all be for nothing. When my mother died, my father was obsessed with discovering the cause. Eventually, he-"
"Discovered a silver-blood clot which was caused by his Majesty using Auswählen. We know, we know. Ichigo and Bambi-chan already had theirs taken out, which they survived because of yours truly!"
The teen was surprised, "So… they should have enough for two more special arrows. Then… we should get moving. It would be best if we all coordinate when to strike. I also have my own power, which I feel could provide useful if we get into a bind."
"So, just because you couldn't join the Schutzstaffel, it means you're going to throw your back against the Wandenreich!?"
Bambietta lowered her eyes at Gerard. She never really liked the man, but he was somewhat right. She did want to join the elite bodyguard unit. Mainly because of a certain orange haired kid who had somehow gotten the position before her. Every Sternritter wanted to be a bodyguard. It was an exclusive group of highly-valued Quincy. It hurt her pride when she was rejected. She didn't feel as important. But once Yhwach named his successor, a foreigner, it really got to her.
"Actually, it's because I lost. And then was betrayed by another Quincy."
Her answered unconvinced him, "Then you're even more useless than I initially believed."
Rukia intervened, "I don't care about your history. I'm only going to tell you this once, Quincy. When I use my Bankai, fly away. Otherwise, you'll be killed as collateral." Bambietta didn't bother replying, Some no mai, Tsukishiro!" Gerard noticed the ground below him turned and quickly got out of the way.
"Such an amateur!" The "Miracle" yelled with a smirk, "Let's hope you aren't as weak as the other Shinigami!" Gerard quickly appeared before Rukia and sliced downward. The Shinigami lowered her eyes and blocked the attack with ease.
"Back up!" Bambietta yelled. Rukia did as instructed. A series of explosions then erupt from her original position. Like many other Quincy who were attacked by the Auswählen, she was still able to use her schrift to a limited degree. The "Explode" itself would always be with there. As long as her soul isn't taken by Yhwach.
Suddenly, the flying ex-Sternritter noticed a growing pain on her arm, "Ahhhh!" She said in agony. Somehow, a burn mark was showing on her arm. Even though Gerard hadn't even reached her position, "What the fuck is this!?"
The "M" jumped from the smoke, mostly unscathed. Most of his body was injured, as well as his sword, "You lack miracles!"
Rukia observed this strange exchange and locked onto his blade, "Tsugi nao mai, Hakuren!" A quick dance left an avalanche of ice particles to emerge from her Zanpakuto. Gerard frowned and dove into the attack, hoping this own power would negate the ability. Bambietta took a more cautious approach and shot only one explosion at his location. This time, there was no strange counter attack. Gerard broke the ice particles with his shield in hand. Rukia panicked and managed to repel one attack before being kicked in the stomach.
"You two are slow, so I'll just speed this up." The "M" said with impatience, "You can't hurt me. As long as I have this sword, my miracles will merely deflect the power towards yourself."
"That's what I speculated." The Vice-Captain of the 13th Division said.
"Bankai."
"Gaaah!"
Ichigo's body slammed into the wall. Followed by a collapsed Bazz-B onto the ground. This whole time he was already in his Shikai form, but it didn't seem to be doing too much against Yhwach. It's not as if he expected the emperor to be weak. He just thought he was a lot stronger. The two had actually been winning the fight before Yhwach decided to use his schrift. His cursed, seemingly unstoppable schrift.
Bazz-B was either unconscious, or pretending to be.
It was also at this moment where he could feel a drop in spiritual pressure from outside the area. The levels weren't deathly low, but low enough to be alarming. He knew it was her, but tried to ignore it.
"You're not going to get anywhere spacing out!" Juha jumped on Ichigo, who made it in time to block his attack, "I supposed I should just take power I so generously gave you right now!" His placed his hand onto Ichigo's face, but the younger Quincy used Hirenkyaku to escape.
'That sword... what is wrong with his sword?' Yhwach asked himself, 'For some reason... it is blocked. My "Almighty" cannot see it. It's as if... it simply doesn't exist. I know it is real, because I saw it before I activated my power. I'll just have to wait, then.'
"Don't you think it's a little immature to keep using a bow!?"
Ichigo ignored his words and continued firing off powerful Heilig Pfeils. However, he was right. Ironically enough, the biggest fight between two Quincy's would have to be handled by swords. Arrows could only do so much at this point, "Urahara Kisuke told me everything about the Soul King. What makes you think you can handle replacing him!?"
Yhwach spat, "That man knows nothing. My goal is to absorb that creature, and change this world. Only I can handle! You, my child, and the rest of the Sternritter are mere steps in that stairway. Once I achieve my goal, I will have no need for any of you."
The teen shook in anger, "All this time. We worshiped you. You were our leader. You were supposed to lead us to salvation. You manipulated us. And don't pretend as if you were giving us something to live for, a future! I had that, and you took it away from me!"
"Such insolence, your definition of a "life" was wasteful. I-!"
Ichigo has had enough. He lowered his eyes, and tonelessly muttered, "Schattenkönig (Shadow King)." An explosion of highly concentrated blue spiritual pressure emerged from his position.
Yhwach recalled a memory from not too long ago. One that his Grandmaster had sent to him while the man was sleeping, 'Hascwalth... your dream couldn't have more detailed. It's just like back then. He has the same look in his eyes.'
Black
Pitch BlACK
"You created your own Völlstandig?" In such a limited time frame, the younger Quincy somehow was able to summon a full-power state, 'Where did he go!?'
Emerging from behind was darkened-shadowy figure. Yhwach attempted to slice behind him but before he knew, it the individual was gone. PIERCE. The tip of a large blade was seen going outside the man's shoulder. He couldn't see it. And he has no idea why, "You spent years honing your skills with your original Völlstandig. At least I know they're some weakness to this. Ichigo kept quiet and descended back into the ground. This new power was just the apex of what he could do before. His body was able to essentially fall into any reishi structure and use shadows to move around at an incredible speed.
While struggling to search the ground for Ichigo, Yhwach failed to realize that the entire surrounding area had been overtaken in a mist of black aura.
'This aura... it's different than his own. This is part of the Schatten Bereich!' The Schatten Bereich was the area between Silbern and the Soul Society. It was a essentially a buffer zone through space, and it was created by old Quincy who made it in order to escape the onslaught of the Shinigami. Forgetting the history lesson, the emperor soon found himself at the center of a barrage of arrows. There was nowhere to ago, he was forced to endure the grueling attack, "The more I need to heal, the more I'm going to take the lives of your dear comrades!"
"Maybe I'll start with her again...I think she'd look better as a skeleton than with flesh."
Ichigo couldn't resist, he was hurt, "You chose Meninas!? You knew when I was there, and how close I was with her. You didn't do it at random, you chose her just to fuck with me!"
Yhwach smirked, 'The voice didn't match with his movement. His real body is somewhere else.' He raised his spiritual levels and slammed his fist into the ground. The concussive force was enough to break the ground, the walls, and revealed a surprised Ichigo who sprung out the structure, "It is still a premature Völlstandig!"
"Excuse me for being impolite, but I already know a lot about your powers."
Jugram Haschwalth raised an eyebrow, "I wish I could say the same, Urahara Kisuke."
The Grandmaster was supposed to go and assist Yhwach. However, a certain special war potential immediately collided against him, "His Majesty told me to prepare for this fight. So, I brought something which I believe and end this very quickly." Urahara smirked. Haschwalth revealed his broadsword and shield, "However, I supposed you already know what this shield is."
Kisuke obtained various amounts of critical information from Ichigo, Bambietta, and Bazz. While Ichigo is the most informed and knowledgeable about his powers, "Yes. Fortunately, in the past, you trained with Kurosaki-san. Your sword is nothing special, but that shield apparently has the power to absorb misfortune."
The "Balance" lowered his eyes, "And?"
Urahara smiled and waved a fan over his face, "Your "Balance" works with your shield. Bazz-B told me his experience, and I think I have it all figured out."
"Do you, now?"
Haschwalth watched as the man revealed an electronic device from his back pocket, "Yes. I created it before we left, and have made a few adjustments due to the new information I have been receiving. You see, this device doesn't actually affect your "Balance" or your shield. It merely just reveals how much misfortune, something is facing in terms of percentages." Urahara showed the man, "You see how it says 0%? That means it's experienced 0 misfortune so far. But when it goes up to 200%, then whoever is on the wrong side of the misfortune will cease to exist."
The "Balance" was amazed, but he didn't show it, "Then, good luck attacking me. Just because you can calculate the misfortune doesn't mean it's going to work in your favor. You still have to somehow make that number go up. And since I'm the one with the power to direct misfortune, it isn't in your favor."
"That is true," He replied, "I'm not the one with the "Balance". But I am lucky Kurosaki-san has a really strong memory."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Kurosaki-san told me a story from after when he was kidnapped. Him, and strangely, Bazz-B had plotted to kill one of you Sternritter a long, long time ago. Back when they were kids. The man they had planned to kill conveniently had the same power as yourself."
!
Haschwalth's eyes open wide, "My natural power is to give power to those around me. The "Balance" was something that was given to me by his Majesty. The one before me was..."
"Someone named Hubert." Kisuke answered.
...
"Why are you telling me this?" Jugram asked, "Regardless of how much you know, it doesn't matter." The "B" raised his blade and began charging the Shinigami. Urahara blocked the attack and used Shunpo to go backwards, "What? Are you not planning to fight me?"
"Bankai."
Jugram's eyes widen, 'Bankai!? The Daten never reported such a thing. Perhaps we were simply relying on a lack of information. Nonetheless, we should have known about this!' Appearing behind the Shinigami emerged a giant-humanoid figure of a woman with a long, stretched black hair. Just from appearances alone, this Bankai was obscure.
"Kannonbiraki Bneihime Aratame (Opened Red Princess Neo)." The Shinigami then fell to knees and shrugged his shoulders, "This is it, Haschwalth-san." Jugram could see long tendrils in the design of stitches extend from his Bankai. The Quincy prepared to dodge and parry the obvious incoming attack. But something was off. Kisuke wasn't making any effort to actually close the gap between the two. Instead, the man stood up and held his arms out as if he was surrendering.
RIP
"W-What are you doing!?" The "B" asked in absolute horror. Urahara's arm split open. Blood shooting out like a wild hose.
"Update... misfortune calculation at 4%"
The device speaks!?
SLASH
RIP
STAB
BREAK
SNAP
"Update... misfortune calculation at 34%"
"This is your strategy!?" Jugram yelled, "To simply kill yourself and hope I will fall with you!?" The Quincy continued to observed. Stich marks suddenly appear all over the Shinigamis body. Then, the wounds which he had self-inflicted began to close themselves. He wasn't just healing, he was quickly rebuilding his body in a more durable fashion, "I see now. So, you figured it out. Anyone who attacks me will gain fortune, which I will manipulate against them. But you're giving me fortune by hurting yourself. So, what happens when your body is filled with stiches? What happens when the device reaches 200%!?"
The Quincy needed a new strategy. He gripped his blade and charged the Shinigami, "If I just kill you, then this isn't going to be a problem."
Urahara extends his arms out and yells "Bakudo #99 Kin!" Black spiritual fabric instantly falls to the ground. Its weight being solidified into the ground by durable iron shafts. Jugo cursed as the fabric lifted from the ground and soon entangled the Sternritter, "This shouldn't affect your misfortune too hard as you are not being injured."
"Update... misfortune calculation at 30%"
It only went down 4%. Jugo was bound. He wasn't a Quincy with immense spiritual pressure who could break this with ease. And he didn't have enough misfortune to redirect the attack against his enemy.
"I would like to speed this up." Urahara admitted, "How much do you think an eye would be?" The Quincy was in disbelief.
"Don't do it..."
Kisuke used his Bankai to severe his right eye. Then, instantly restructuring it back to normal. He continued with more self-injury, furthering his misfortune.
"78%"
The "Balance" was helpless. He's never faced an opponent who was able to not only decipher the true nature of his schrift, but to also counter it and find a way to beat it. Its power was thought to be absolute, and he's never lost a real fight with it, 'If I use my Völlstandig then maybe I can break this Kidou. But, I'm not sure if scales will tilt even further in his favor. Never before in my life have I felt this helpless.'
"You are an intellectual monster."
SNAP
Bones breaking.
Bones healing.
RIP
His leg slashing open.
His leg being stitched back together.
"105%"
Almost half way.
"This isn't civil, this is macabre." The blonde Quincy cringed at the sight of more, and more, and more, and more, wounds being open and closed.
"This is war." Kisuke said with deadpanned eyes, "If you lose, you're dead. Preparing and pushing yourself to the brink gives you the best odds for survival. It's no different from what everyone does." Urahara did have to be careful. Causing such fatal wounds may not be healed if his Bankai recedes, 'It appears I won't be able to help Kurosaki-san. I'll have to remain in my own bankai until the critical wounds make a recovery.'
It was then when the Shinigami revealed his bare body, "I'll survive at least with one of these." Using his Bankai, the man shredded one of his kidneys. It came back, but once his bankai goes away, it will be gone. You cannot heal internal organs as easily as basic wounds.
"175%"
"The appendix should do."
"200%"
The world froze for Jugram Haschwalth. This man, this Shinigami has done what no other enemy has done in his entire life. He was designated a special war potential for his "unknown means" and ability to adapt to battle strategy's. That definition applied very heavily. It was also at this moment when the Kidou used to being Jugram expired. The Quincy slowly stood up and awaited what was supposed to come next, 'Even if he had no knowledge of my power beforehand, he still would have pushed me this far. In the corner of his eye, he noticed something vibrating. It was his Freund Schild. After intense shaking, it shattered. It's not like he should be stunned, but he is. This unique device which he has held proudly for mainly years, gone. He will no longer be able to use it to redirect the misfortune to his enemies. Another consequence is unable to absorb misfortune. From here on out, the "Balance" was essentially toothless.
Jugram charged at the Shinigami. He raised his broadsword and attempted to strike the man.
It was fruitless.
RIP
Collapse.
Without the "Balance", Jugram Haschwalth was not capable of dealing with a man like Urahara Kisuke. Wounds appear all over his body. From his face all the way down toward his legs. He fell onto his back, and knew the fight was over. He had lost. The Shinigami approached the man and stared at him from above, "I won't lie, Haschwalth-san, I had expected you to be a bit more... powerful." It didn't bother Jugram.
He replied, "It is fine. I've seen the future. His Majesty will end this war with his own two hands. I lost. I only have one other purpose. And that is to stay here."
Kisuke frowned, "Is their nothing else important to you? Is Juhabach the only man you can think of during these last moments of your life?"
"You Shinigami don't understand. His Majesty is the symbolic figure of the Quincy. He is the Quincy. Our purpose in our life is to honor our heritage... to honor... his Majesty." The Quincy began to cough up blood. His body was aching, and he can feel the loss of light due to the draining of blood, "All those I considered comrades... or even "friends"... have only let me down."
"Not every Quincy feels that way. And who are you to tell them what their purpose is?"
"I suppose you could tell that traitor Ichi-... Kurosaki, that he won't be able to fight me like he wanted." It was no secret. The two never had mutual companionship. Jugram always believed the teen got special treatment while Ichigo felt Haschwalth was an annoying hawk who did everything in his power to make things difficult for others.
A smile formed on the Shinigami's face, "I will, but I doubt he will care. Kurosaki-san doesn't hate the Wandenreich. He grew up with it. But his goal will be different than Yhwach's."
"His goal?" Jugram asked with a hint of curiously, "That child never had goals. He always relied on others to make those decisions for him. That's why he refused the position of successor. Perhaps if he hadn't done that, then this would have never happened. And our new world would have already been completed."
"He is still going to create a new world."
The "B" raised an eyebrow.
"Kurosaki-san told me... he is going to fix the Quincy. Transform the Lichtreicht, and any other Quincy land. To end the suffering between everyone. He may seem ambitious, but it is a plan that I can get behind. No conscription, no planned hate for war against the Shinigami. Just a place where Quincy can be and not disturb the pacification and balance of Hollows."
Jugram trailed... "A place where... villages don't get burned down...?"
Urahara Kisuke felt a chill run up his spine. Something tells him that what the Quincy just said is something very personal. Likely, something that happened to him in his younger days. Something that left a strong impact on his mind. He's never been to this Quincy land. But judging from how everyone describes it, it doesn't seem like a place people should live in.
"Yes... a place where villages are spared, and family's grow..."
Jugram Haschwalth formed one last smirk on his face. His eyes grow weak, and begin to close. A flash image of a young Bazz-B falls into his mind. A memory, from a long time ago. Something about the red-haired child throwing a rabbit at him. It was the most important memory from his youth. The beginning that sent everything into motion.
"Now that...is a world... that I can get behind..."
Bambietta flew away.
The temperature had dropped to an incredible rate. Her own winter clothing of black leggings and a winter coat wouldn't be able to withstand it. Rukia however, didn't give any regard to her wellbeing. She was just sitting within the cold as if it was nothing. Gerard had no cold-resistance. The man charged at Rukia, but was suddenly stopped in place. His voice could no longer be heard. His skin was no longer the same color. Everything about him, from his sword, all the way toward his foot turned white.
"The enemy was generous enough to inform us about his powers," Rukia stated before approaching the frozen Quincy. She reached into his hand and took his sword, "Here, take this. It will be better if you hold on to it." Bambietta nodded and caught Hoffnung. It was at this moment when the ice which coated Gerard suddenly began to crack.
Shatter.
A sudden bright light shot out from the sky. It beamed down right toward Gerard's position. There was a large figure, about the same size as the Sternritter. This humanoid light-figure soon stood up, and with gathering reishi recreated the seemingly deceased "Miracle".
"Not good enough." He stated.
BOOM
Explosions roar across his position. His whole body, once again, disintegrating into nothing. Like before, a yellow-humanoid figure was created from the heavens. The moment he was revived again, the man bit on this dumb and formed a Quincy Zeichen using his blood. The two could feel an immense concentration of spiritual pressure flow into the man. The "E" launched more and more reishi infused reishi bombs toward the man, but this was futile. The Sternritter began to get taller, and taller, and even taller.
TALLER!
Bambietta spent a couple of minutes having to fly away. Her eyes couldn't believe what she was seeing. Not only was he apparently immortal, but also a living giant. How massive was he exactly? Who knows? But he towered over the entire soul palace. No building could come close to his levels of height. The Quincy's wings had grown to a size relative to his body. He was also sporting a strange medieval mask. His spirit weapon had also been forged into his own hands.
"ROAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
A strange war-cry was powerful enough to send the flying Quincy back, "You are a fly to me!"
Rukia gritted her teeth and used her Bankai to continue freezing the area around them. Gerard slashed downward at the female but easily missed. Their smaller size gives them likely a better advantage than his massive one, 'I can't use my Bankai forever. But if I drag the temperature to 0, I may end up injuring Bambietta if she isn't careful.' Gerard stomped on the area around Rukia. With the environment getting colder and colder. Despite his massive size, his body did begin to stiffen. White ice soon coating the entirety of his body just as it was before. The flying Quincy observed this and knew it would be unwise to get closer. She could feel the intense cold from way over here.
The Shinigami could see his body shaking, "He's going to break from it! Blow him up!" Rukia yelled.
Bambietta took out her bow and began shooting hundreds of Heilig Pfeils into the man. All scattering across his body. Even her wings were expending thousands of smaller reishi orbs which latched onto the giant. She braced herself. This was going to be a big one.
It wouldn't be wrong to say she enjoyed watching things blow up. Some Sternritter have their own original power. And Yhwach's blood merely enhances their ability to use said power. However, she didn't have the ability to blow things up before becoming a Sternritter. So, it wasn't something she has had her entire life. Just majority of her adult life. Throughout these years, she never really "tested" how much pure power she could release. It was just something she never dwelled on. But this... this right here. This was the absolute apex of the "Explode". Even though Yhwach had taken back some of the power he gave her, she still has the base ability.
She could only hope Rukia would survive this.
'I could care less!' The Quincy then told herself. Always a reminder that the Shinigami were the enemy before the Quincy.
It was almost orgasmic.
A bright light which lit up the entire Soul Palace realm.
An explosion like no other she has witnessed. She blushed and wished Ichigo was right here to witness it from this distance. Her pride? Her ego? Her explosions were at the center of them.
Gerard Valkryie ignited. The burst of wind caused by the bomb was powerful enough to send her flying across the entire realm. Eventually, she regained her composure. Emerging from the massive explosion was an enormous smoke screen which was polluting the royal palace.
She could see with disappointment, a bright yellow light glowing within the smoke. Bambietta sighed. This was becoming exhausting, 'I bet Kurosaki knew this would happen. He just didn't want me getting in the way.' She was still a little upset about being forced here. It wasn't a very exciting fight, but it was good enough to kee-
Her thoughts were interrupted.
A large, speeding projectile came shooting out of the gray cloud. An enormous, yellow Heilig Pfeil. The size was, well, huge. The arrow being around the same length as a building. Luckily, with her reaction time, she was able to dodge the main head of the arrow. However, she was scrapped by the sides. And that was scrape was just powerful enough to rupture a giant wound on the side of her body. She placed her hand on the bloody mark but cursed that her most powerful explosion had only made the man return yet again.
It was just going to be going on and on until they figured out a way to permanently immobilize him, or kill him.
Exhausted.
He was exhausted.
Ichigo had used his Völlstandig, and to be fair, it had pushed Yhwach a bit. However, the man was able to continuously use Auswählen from the poor Quincy below to continue fueling his power, and his health. The Quincy emperor was strong, very strong. Likely the strongest person in existence at this moment. Bazz looked over to the orange haired Quincy and nodded.
The "Almighty" Quincy smirked, "Go ahead. I already know what you want to do. Your Völlstandig failed, but let's see your Bankai, Ichigo." Ichigo was still perplexed at his schrift. Being able to change the future. He's honestly surprised he's made it this far.
"Bankai."
Yhwach lowered his eyes. Ichigo was now morphed into some sort of mixed figure. Between a Hollow and a Quincy. The Hollow being represented as red, while the Quincy being represented as white. Just a strange mix. His appearance was somewhat recognizable. Starting off, was a white horn on his right temple. His eyes were red, and had a strange wicked sense to them. Even the color of his hair has changed. There were strands of black mixed in with the orange.
His Zanpakuto had split. He now had two Zanpakuto. One carried the appearance of the Shikai, most notably carrying its black-reishi aura. While the other was reishi inspired. Except for being typically light blue, it was now an ethereal bright red.
Ichigo placed his swords together to form an X, "Getsuga Rei!" He then slashed his swords against another, sending a highspeed white and red projectile toward Yhwach. The Quincy merely scoffed and dodged the attack.
"Watch your step." Juha taunted. Ichigo appeared behind the man but was suddenly crippled when a reishi spike from the ground sprung up and pierced his foot.
'Traps!?'
Traps from the past.
However, Ichigo was lucky. The wound which opened from the spike was quickly closed. A convenient power. One that should be regulated and paid attention to," High-speed regeneration? You really are a monster!" The teen didn't bother replying. Ichigo attempted to strike the man up close, but his eyes widen, Yhwach had suddenly vanished.
A kick from behind. A stab from behind. The teen angst in pain, but Yhwach wasn't done. He grabbed Ichigo by the neck and slammed the younger Quincy into the ground. Ichigo watches as the man places his foot onto his stomach, keeping him from quickly escaping. However, the teen slams his hand into the ground and smirks, "Kirchenlied: Sankt Dichtung (Saint Seal)." Juha's eyes go wide, and he attempts to leap away, but it was too lazy. Reishi structures soon rise around the two, and the ground suddenly became blue. A paralyzing seal was forced onto anything within its circle.
"Now, Bazz!"
Bazz cursed, his right hand was broken. Nevertheless, he loads a mysterious, silver-arrow into his crossbow and shoots the projectile.
Ichigo watches in slow motion. It was so… perfect. The spinning was so majestic. This was it. This was what the plan was all about.
Until he missed.
He missed the shot.
Against a frozen target.
"GOD DAMN IT!"
"YOU WORTHLES-" Ichigo felt a pulverizing pressure on his chest. Yhwach had slammed his foot into him. Kicking his body from the area, toward the edge of the realm.
The former "Heat" yelled, "Burning Full Fingers!" A vortex of concentrated reishi fire sprung out from his non-broken hand. Yhwach leapt away but lowered his eyes onto his former subordinate, "Come get it, old man!" A mere slash from his blade was enough to quell the intensity.
"I've seen this. I've changed this." The Emperor looked over his shoulder, but his eyes went wide when a strange black hand gripped him by the neck, 'What!? It can't be… it's not supposed to be. How!? Why!?' Yhwach looked over to see that this hand was emerging from one of Ichigo's Zanpakuto, "YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE. YOU WERE CREATED FOR A REASON, TO NOT GET INVOLVED! WHY ARE YOU HELPING HIM!?" Mimihagi. He recognizes it now. It's been a long time, but he could never truly forget. The Mimihagi was strong, strong enough to hold him and continuously push him closer and closer to the edge, "DON'T DO THIS, YOU KNOW IT IS WRONG!"
PUSH
In order to keep Yhwach as far away as possible, the Mimihagi launched the man over the edge. There was nothing close below. It will take a couple of minutes for him to actually fall all the way down town toward the Seireitei.
That thing… that right hand of the Soul King, 'I guess everything I learned from my childhood was a lie. Nonetheless, it has a conscious of its own. Their must have been some clause when it was created from the Soul King.' Yhwach ended his thoughts as he knew it was pointless. There was nothing he could do about the falling. Although, he did have a plan of not only escaping Ichigo, but reaching his goal at the tip of the Soul Palace.
"Sankt Bogen!"
A quick, giant saint bow was formed beneath his position. Yhwach grabbed onto one of the arrows and rebounded himself as the projectile shot up. It was magnificent. He should have done this earlier. He ascended above the Greater Soul King Palace. Its cylinder design only had 10 floors, with the Soul King resting on top.
There he was.
"Standing" over there. In his strange capsule.
"I waited a long, long time for this, father." Yhwach said as he drew out his reishi blade, "Perhaps I shouldn't even give you the dignity of dying by my blade. I'd rather just absorb you." The Quincy placed his right arm on the Soul King's head. Black markings appear on his skin. The balance of the universe, which had existed for tens of thousands of years, was last seen being disintegrated and absorbed into his son. It was going so well. He could feel the power running through his veins.
Jumping above the two were multiple figures.
Ichigo extended his palm out and yelled, "Cero!" A narrow red beam of energy collided into Yhwach. He endured the attack, but soon emerged without any serious wounds. Multiple arrows then begin firing at him from various angles. A quick Blut Vene Anhaben absorbed the attacks and defended the elder Quincy. Yhwach then jumped back to his portion of the battleground and observed his enemies.
Kurosaki Ichigo.
Askin Nakk Le Vaar
Bazz-B appeared to have been left behind. Likely resting from his intense injuries.
"I suppose it's time to take away the power I granted you!" Askin could feel a beam of yellow light strike him from above.
The man cursed, "Ahh… I enjoyed my Völlstandig. Can you take away the power about me being so close to death?" The cynicism wasn't appreciated by his comrades, "You know, Juha. When you told me, you were creating a new world, I believed you. But instead you just want to merge all the worlds that already exist into one. That's not new. That's… disgusting."
Yhwach replied, "Don't act If you know what you're talking about. Nevertheless, it's as I foresaw. No more games it is time to die."
Ichigo felt a hint of despair. They had failed to save the Soul King, but knew it can't truly be the end, 'Continue…' said a voice.
'Who is that? Is that you… Zangetsu…?'
'I will restructure him. You just need to kill him.'
This voice… it must have been the Mimihagi Yhwach was talking about. The voice was low-tone and distant.
"I will help."
Yhwach changed. He gained a dark mask of eyes that covered the upper half of his face. Pure darkness was oozing from all over his body. You could only make out his lower face, and various spots throughout his body. Askin took the lead and appeared before the new and improved leader of the Wandenreich, "I guess it's only natural you take out me first. After all, I'm just a distraction."
His attempt didn't work, "No. You think I've forgotten your powers? You're the only one who can truly reject me. It's best if I don't attack you at all. You will, however, be the last traitor I will deal with." Askin internally slapped himself.
Ichigo took the first move and charged at his mortal enemy, "Getsuga Tenshou!" Using both of his Zanpakuto, the teen was able to charge two unique Getsuga Tenshou's against Yhwach. The older man felt them, and they hurt, but the damage was neglected due to a mysterious darkness surround him, "What the hell is this shit!?" The teen asked in fury, "Sklaverei!" An absorption technique, hoping to disperse the darkness. After a few moments he backed away and disregarded the move as it had no effect against Yhwach.
"Hahaha!" The Quincy yelled in ecstasy, "It is apart of me. The power. Time to die, Ichigo!" The power difference was immense. Ichigo was strong, very strong. But an empowered Yhwach would take some tricks to kill.
'Askin told me Ishida was on board.' The teen told himself as he jumped backwards from the attack, 'He also has an arrow. And unlike Bazz, can actually use a bow properly.'
The "Deathdealing" attempted to gain some of this darkness so he could consume it. However, he was merely kicked back by the insanely fast Yhwach. It was actually absurd, 'He knows my power too well. He won't let me consume anything, therefor I can't control his lethal dosage. I need to get some of his blood, or I could try using my own. But then he will just heal himself. I guess we'll have to rely on that Uryu kid. Just waiting for the right moment.'
"Good to see you have joined us, Ishida-san."
Ishira Uryu looked over his shoulder and nodded, "I never intended to follow Yhwach, Urahara-san. For whatever reason, my father believed I would follow his ways. Even though the man is a danger to the world and got my mother killed. I couldn't support that."
Kisuke sighed, "Yeah, we were a bit worried. But I always knew you would do the right thing."
"What happened to you?" Ishida asked with curiosity, "Did you recently go through surgery?"
The Shinigami laughed, "No. I defeated Haschwalth-san. It was… not pretty to those who are afraid of blood, to say the least." Uryu was surprised, the "Grandmaster" was strong. And was also skeptical of the successor. One last loose end to close, "These wounds are critical, and I do not believe I can help Kurosaki-san though combat."
Ishida observed the fight from distance, it was not going well for them. Ichigo was being throttled around like a ball. While Askin attempted to help, his own power was not as straight forward and filled with raw power unlike Ichigo's or Yhwach's.
"We need to engage. I have a plan."
Kisuke shrugged, "Anything."
"First, I'll need you to tell me about your Bankai."
The final fight had been going on for 15 minutes. And while the teen was able to heal majority of his wounds naturally, they still weren't fun to endure. He had exhausted all of his Quincy abilities, and now his Shinigami ones are coming to standstill. Ichigo was now on the defensive, and it wasn't something he could change. Yhwach still had traps prepared which were everywhere. Every third step was another injury that had to be healed.
Askin used Hirenkyaku to charge his former leader, 'I just need a little!' The man reached into the darkness surrounding Yhwach and pulled back almost instantly, 'This is… an eye!?' He cringed at the prospect but nonetheless did what he had to do.
He consumed it.
A strange, yellow and white eye surrounded by pitch blackness.
"Your powers always were always… ludicrous!" Yhwach could feel the struggle of moving. His body slowing down due to the "Deathdealing" causing that darkness which is currently engulfing him, to injure him, "But I saw this, and will change its outcome!"
Ichigo used this moment to strike the man. Using a reishi-enhanced strike from both of his Zanpakuto.
But it was futile. Yhwach eventually regained his movement, his health, and his composure. And merely slashed the teen across the chest. Sending him flying and collapsing onto his back. He kicked Ichigo toward the edge, hoping this time he would fall, "You are just a little ant. No matter how many times you follow or get away, you just keep coming back!"
Yhwach raised his blade and pointed it at his neck. Ichigo mind wondered if this was it, but luckily, a strange tendril extended and block the sword from striking his neck. The Quincy emperor turned around to see Urahara Kisuke and Ishida Uryu both staring the man down, "A walking dead man, and a brat who can't come close to my level. I shall enjoy taking your powers!"
Before he could charge, the man froze, 'My reishi… it's poisoning me…' He looked toward to see a collapse Askin smirking from the ground, 'I'll need to absorb more rishi to counter-balance the poisoned once. Or merely expend it outward.'
"He can't move!" The "D" yelled. The moment these words were said, everything went into motion. Urahara Kisuke came before Yhwach, and used his Bankai one last time. Not to cut the Quincy, but to do the same thing he had done in his previous fight. Everyone besides Ishida watched in strange horror as all the stiches from the Shinigami's body became undone. Blood splattering all around the battlefield.
Uryu the appeared between Urahara and Yhwach and raised his spiritual pressure.
SWAP
In the blink of an eye, Urahara was healed. His wounds had been transferred. Including the ones from his internal organs, 'So this is the power of the "Antithesis".' It was quite a marvelous power indeed. To reverse anything that has happened between two figures.
Yhwach normally would have been free from his original reishi binding. However, his eyes went wide, 'What? My "Almighty" didn't it see this? Is it because it already happened? I can't see the past, only the future through the present…' The "Anti-thesis" was one of the few weaknesses that had actually countered the "Almighty". Truly an ironic twist of fate, considering this power was given to Ishida through his own blood.
Ichigo knew what to do. And so did another God. Emerging from one of his Zanpakuto was the black hand of the Mimihagi. It extended itself out and grabbed Yhwach by the neck, holding the man in the place. Then, the teen formed his bow and placed the special arrow into it. Still Silver zipped right through the man, exposing his body for what it truly was.
They only needed one more.
One more person.
"Burning Finger… 1!"
Yhwach's last image of being alive was seeing Ichigo and Urahara standing side by side.
Jugram….
You were right…
What you sent me was not the dream you had…
What you saw…
…was the future…
How could I have not seen it?
Or maybe… I didn't want to see it?
Where are you, Jugram?
Where am I?
I hope… wherever we go… I see you
For you're my other half…
And the only friend I've ever had….
A narrow beam of concentrated fire reishi was seen shooting through the man's skull. It was a peaceful ending, to a horrible man.
It was the death of Yhwach.
And the death of the Invisible Empire.
I'll have a more thorough AN next chapter. The last.