Hi guys Azza here!

So, I want to say sorry for taking so long to upload but I had to take a break since I've been both physically and mentally drained for well over a month now. My drive to write has been virtually zero and I've been so tired I just didn't have it in me to try.

That being said, I want to be honest and say my upload schedule is still very much in question at this point. I feel that I should be up to the task of writing again mentally but I'm still physically stuffed so at this time I can't make promises on fully coming back from any sort of hiatus.

I know many of my long time readers probably expected this years ago since you guys kept telling me to take breaks and I just didn't so its definitely my own fault but I have genuinely enjoyed writing this.

I won't go into this much more just so you guys can get to the story but again I'm truly sorry for taking so long and hopefully I can get back into gear soon!

All reviews should have been answered in PM form however I have noticed several people mention that Natsu is either being beaten too easily, struggling against foes he shouldn't be and other similar comments so I'd like to address this with my own opinion on it.

So, in my opinion, I'd like to know how he's struggling against foes he shouldn't be when the only foes he's fought against and had trouble with are a Titan, Alucard who is a much older and more experienced combat based Aura User than the one Natsu knows, Sut-Typhon who is a Lovecraftian Eldritch entity that is basically a Primordial who was partially manifested whilst Natsu was severely nerfed because of his fight with the previous foe and a post EOS Kenpachi Zaraki, one of the strongest characters in Bleach who is only below such overpowered characters as Yammamoto, EOS Ichigo or Yhwach?

Any other character Natsu has fought he's either been purposely holding back, trolling or simply been perplexed as to their abilities and been testing them.

So, I ask you all this one simple question. Do you all seriously want a Natsu who is obliterating his opponents? I have a long-term plan for where Natsu needs to be by the end and having him be that overpowered where he can one shot most foes definitely doesn't serve him well when he will be that powerful by the end of this Volume.

I do hope that you guys can trust me enough to get there, even if the pace right now is utterly pathetic!

I won't go on any longer because this authors note section is becoming its own story so please trust in me and know that I am fully aware of the current level of power my characters have and am fully aware of the enemy characters too!

I do not own Fairy Tail, One Piece or the Nasuverse.

FATAL BATTLE – The Death God Kenpachi

/Natsu's POV/

"So, is that everything?"

"Yes," Ahnk replied as all three reviewed the fight so far in the mindscape. "This guy isn't as strong as the old man, but he's still leagues above Grimmjow or any other Death God I've seen running around."

"I'm honestly surprised I hadn't heard of Lady Death possessing her own sect up until now, especially since they're all quite powerful," Natsu replied whilst deep in thought. "This makes me wonder just how strong Aizen actually is …"

"We can debate that later Dad, what matters right now is figuring out a way to take Kenpachi down!"

"Hate to agree with the brat, but she's right," Ahnk sighed as all three focused on the frozen form of Kenpachi who was grinning in their general direction. "Even if we stop caring about the rest of the Archipelago and just start tossing around country level attacks, I think he could honestly match them."

"I would assume the answer is obvious then," Natsu replied as he exited his mindscape, the two floating sections of the island behind him vanishing as he slightly raised his arms. "We move the fight!"

Kenpachi's grin widened, a look of madness in his eyes as the two colossal sections of land appeared on either side of him. Bringing his hands together, Natsu clapped, which smashed the two sections into each other.

Unsurprisingly however, Kenpachi simply put out too much raw force for the two bits of land to affect him at all. Without even flinching, the two sections of land were slowly pushed away even with Natsu's Gravity Magic backing it.

"Alright then," Natsu muttered as he made an upward motion with both his index fingers. "Let's try this!"

Tossing both bits of land into the sky, he released them from his grip and extended his left hand. The islands were shattered into millions of boulder sized cubes that flew toward Natsu's position.

The cubes narrowly avoided his right and seemed to orbit him once before being shot into the sky at blinding speeds. This continued until all of them had vanished, leaving Kenpachi to cock his head to the side, seemingly waiting for the inevitable follow up.

Narrowing his eyes, Natsu extended his left hand as a Deep Purple Magic Circle appeared, rotating faster than the regular eye could track. His right hand then moved to sit over the circle right as a loud screeching sound prompting the Shinigami to look up into the rapidly reddening sky.

"You want a fight, you've got one," Natsu said as the millions of cubes shot down toward them. "Hybrid's Aura: Gravity Monarch's Destabilizing Meteor Rain!"

Kenpachi began laughing as the meteors approached his position, each and every last piece packing enough power to blow up Sabaody itself. It was a calculated bluff on Natsu's part. A bluff that would allow him to see just how powerful Kenpachi truly was as well as one to catch him off guard at a critical moment.

"Elder God's Aura: Ola de caos!"

Bringing his hulking blade out to the right, the monstrous yellow energy seemed to condense on his Zankupato as Kenpachi swung it full force. A monstrous energy wave was released that obliterated the closest meteors, washing over them with absolutely no effort.

Natsu watched as the attack performed the same against each subsequent wave of meteors, showing no signs of slowing down even as it reached the stratosphere. Looking back down at Kenpachi, he knew now was the time to make his move.

The observations had taken less than a moment, Kenpachi's eyes already shifting to Natsu's new position to his right. The Shinigami grinned as Natsu's palm touched the ground, holding up the rest of his body as he performed a powerful launching kick, striking him in the chin.

As Kenpachi was launched into the sky, Natsu quickly warped higher and higher to keep up with his ascent. The goal was to get as high above Sabaody as possible to avoid damaging it any further, an idea that Kenpachi didn't seem all that opposed to if his lack of resistance was anything to go by.

Eventually, the pair reached the stratosphere just in time to watch Kenpachi's attack leave orbit and destroy the last of the meteors. Once it destroyed the last of them, the attack fizzled out, leaving no trace of its presence at all.

"Gotta say, I'm impressed you were able to turn that island into a meteor shower," Kenpachi said as he slung Nozarashi over his shoulder. "Then again, the power of a living Hybrid knows no bounds."

"I'm surprised you let me knock you all the way up here," Natsu replied evenly, not unnerved in the slightest by the widening grin.

"Yeah, I could tell you didn't wanna destroy Sabaody any more than it already is," the Shinigami replied with a nod. "As long as we get to have our fight, I couldn't care less where it takes place."

"I see …"

"So, what do you think?"

"I saw the power he put into that energy wave attack," Natsu replied as he reviewed his own level of power in turn. "He's only in his Shikai form, so if we rail him now then we can win."

"I was thinking the same thing," Ahnk nodded in agreement. "This overcharge of power has propelled us higher than we've been post the Alvarez/Ishgar War. I'm not sure yet just how close we are to your prime but we'd be inching closer for damn sure."

"You've gone and gotten my hopes up now Natsu," Kenpachi continued as the yellow Aura continued to leak from his form. "There aren't a lot of people who can handle my power, power that can make my enemies shit themselves just by being within a mile of it. I'm not gonna stop until I've seen everything you've got!"

"Didn't expect you to, really," Natsu replied calmly as he inspected both his hands. "I think I've just about acclimated to the extra power …"

"Good," Kenpachi almost purred as he dropped down into an offensive stance. "Then you won't mind if I just do … THIS!"

Faster than the eye could blink, Kenpachi had vanished and appeared within inches of Natsu, already mid-swing. To the Shinigami's surprise however, it appeared that Natsu had foreseen the movement and had ever so slightly shifted his body to the left with the attack slicing off the tips of his hair.

It was at that moment Kenpachi knew he was in for a real fight, Natsu's right hand pressed up against the flat of Nozarashi to push the released Zankupato away, staggering the Shinigami as red sparks crackled all around them.

"Contrary to popular belief," Natsu began as Kenpachi's senses screamed for him to dodge. "Even though I once possessed power and speed beyond this, it still is rather tricky to remember how to use it correctly."

Kenpachi's eyes darted to his Zankupato, which now appeared coated by the lightning, before quickly looking back to Natsu's still calm gaze.

"Mind you, I was completely clueless last time I possessed that much power too," he chuckled softly as a dark red bolt of lightning struck Kenpachi full force. "Hybrid's Aura: Lightning Monarch's Sprite Spear!"

Kenpachi was blasted down into the ocean, the sea itself being blasted back by the sheer power behind the lightning strike itself. The attack lodged Kenpachi firmly into a massive crater, the sea quickly returning to engulf his assumedly 'stuck' form.

Even from his current height however, Natsu could see that all his attack had really done was excite the man even further. Sure, it most certainly dealt damage, but the man clearly was a glutton for battle.

"A man after my own heart," he chuckled softly as more of the lightning rained down from the black clouds around him. "Even so, I can't make this easy for him."

"You think that technique will be enough to hold him down," Ahnk asked in mild interest as Natsu raised his right hand up into one of the clouds and pulled out a solidified bolt of the red lightning.

"No. But it will deal damage and buy the others time to bail, the main objective of this entire thing."

"Fair enough," Ahnk hummed in understanding. "Keep in mind though, the manipulation is on another scale from the ones you normally do."

Summoning a Deep Purple Magic Circle, Natsu placed the bolt within the centre as it began to spin, monstrous energy being released as he formed a new attack.

"Consider yourself honoured, Kenpachi," Natsu chuckled as he let loose the first shot which was quickly followed by six more. "You'd be the first to experience this technique on this scale!"

The six shots impacted the sea in an evenly spaced circle, the entire sea within viewing distance instantly turning the same red colouration as the lightning bolts themselves. From the tips of the bolts that still protruded from the ocean, red sparks shot out toward the centre to create a powerful barrier.

"Hybrid's Aura: Lightning Gravity Dragon Monarch's Sprite Prison!"

The technique was the highest form of a tried and true one he'd often use to detain foes. The first stage, the Suppression Spikes, would merely restrain the target and shock them should they dare try and mount any kind of escape attempt. The second stage, the Tesla Prison, was designed to literally imprison foes within a miniature fortress of Lightning and Gravity.

The first stage used yellow lightning; the second stage used blue. The new stage of the technique however, was one he'd opted to keep within the realm of theory, up until this moment.

Red lightning, the by-product of his enhanced power, was a wholly unstable discharge of his power in of itself. To be frank, it would be considered a 'level up' from the blue variant he'd acquired from absorbing the monstrous blasts of it from Kaguya.

With this in mind, he combined it with his enhanced Gravity Magic to create an even more durable form of the Tesla Prison. If the Tesla Prison was a fortress borne of Magic, the Sprite Prison was a veritable Citadel.

Boasting the most powerful lightning he had the ability to command, combined with almost one thousand times the planet's Gravity slamming downward onto its target, the Sprite Prison was a technique he was confident would delay Kenpachi for a minute at least.

So, what would one consider doing with a precious minute of bought time in a fight against a Death God? Would they use it to check on their friends, perhaps use the opportunity to prepare some kind of attack?

Instead of any of the above options, Natsu exhaled before licking his lips and beginning to inhale deeply. Clawing at the air with gusto, Natsu quite literally began tearing chunks out of it and scoffing it down as the ground below began to shake from Kenpachi's efforts at escape.

"You know, I feel senile not thinking of that idea," Ahnk chuckled weakly, prompting Aava to shoot him a smug grin in response.

"It only makes sense that Dad listens to my idea too! We're up against a God of freaking DEATH here, so naturally we need to take any opportunity to gain further power!"

The sound of roaring thunder drew all three's attention down toward the Sprite Prison, which shattered only forty-two seconds into Natsu's meal. A surge of the yellow energy was sent flying upward at Natsu, a skull seemingly at its head, forcing Natsu to halt in consuming more of the Apocalypse around them and confront the attack head on.

"Hybrid's Aura: Divine Dragon Monarch's Saintly Roar!"

Releasing a Pure White breath attack down upon the incoming attack, Natsu inwardly hoped that matching an attack so laced with Death with something laced so full of Life would be enough to match.

Fortunately, the two attacks smashed into one another and quickly fizzled out. One being so full of Life and the other Death meant that neither could gain an advantage over the other. Kenpachi emerged from the water, no noticeable battle damage present, however he was panting slightly as he flared his Aura to blast the water off of him.

"Don't know what the fuck that last technique you used on me down there was," the Shinigami chuckled as he began to stretch his arms, a slight cracking sound accompanying said movements almost instantly. "But I sure as hell don't plan on getting caught up in it a second time!"

"That remains to be seen," Natsu countered evenly as the Shinigami vanished and moved to attack once again. "Even if I wasn't able to get the full minute I wanted, I still got more than enough!"

Bringing Nozarashi down for a vertical slash attack, Kenpachi was stunned as Natsu made no move to dodge. His surprise quickly morphed into full blown shock as his blade struck Natsu's Crash Barrier, unable to slice through.

"What-!?"

"The power gap between us has grown exponentially," Natsu said softly as Kenpachi continued to push against the barrier, now utilizing both hands instead of just the one. "Sure, you managed to stop Ahnk's attacks in that form, but you've forgotten one crucial point."

"And what's that?"

"He was only wielding less than fifty percent of my overall power," Natsu's voice boomed as Kenpachi found himself blasted back by a raw burst of power. "Now imagine how strong I am with over one hundred and fifty percent of my power!"

"Heh, so that's how it is," Kenpachi chuckled as the yellow Aura exploded around his form with a Pitch Black one quickly flaring up to match it. "In saying that, I think you've gone and underestimated me!"

Gripping Nozarashi with both hands, Kenpachi began to spin it around above his head until it could no longer be tracked by the naked eye. Natsu had to give props to the man for being able to perform such a feat with such a large weapon.

"You think something like a power gap is enough to stop me," Kenpachi roared as he suddenly vanished and appeared well above the clouds behind Natsu's current position. "Elder God's Aura: Shikai – Ola de separacion del dios de la muerte!"

"Natsu, use this," Ahnk's voice roared in his mind as he felt a technique enter the forefront of his mind. "That attack Kenpachi just launched, that's a NAMED Death God attack!"

"Named? You mean like how I name my Dragon based attacks?"

"Yes. He just fired what is known as a Death God's Separation Wave, an attack that uses the power of Death to bypass all obstacles in order to reach its target!"

"How lethal is the attack?"

"It is called 'Separation Wave' because it won't attack you on a physical sense. No, the attack is targeted directly at your very soul!"

Now understanding the significance of such an attack, Natsu was immediately moving to execute Ahnk's counter. Extending his hands as far as they could go, he summoned Pitch Black and Pure White Magic Circles in the palms of his hands and brought them together in a monstrous clap.

The exact moment the two opposing Circles touched, they let out a loud shattering sound before forming into what could only be described as a rapidly expanding Grey Magic Circle. Kenpachi's attack smashed into it, slowing the attack down to a crawl as both Natsu and his new shield found themselves being pushed back down toward the sea.

"Hybrid's Aura: Neutral Arts – Axiemepneis Creamt!"

"Thank fuck," Ahnk sighed deeply with even Aava shuddering a sigh of relief. "I'd rather not have my existence erased today thank you very much!"

"What the hell was that language just now?"

"Don't worry about it-."

"Ahnk. I'm meant to be able to automatically translate languages, so why do I not know what the fuck I just said!?"

"It's … complicated."

"That's putting it mildly …"

The water parted as the attack inched closer to the ground, Natsu finding his feet touching the seafloor as he fully snapped his attention back onto the battle. Kenpachi seemed to be genuinely surprised his attack was being held back and channelled more power into it in an attempt to overpower the shield.

"I think I may be ready to try fighting like I used to," Natsu said as his mind shifted away from a purely defensive mindset to one more suited to combating his Shinigami opponent. "Like I said to Kenpachi before, this level of power is tricky to remember how to effectively use and regulate … but I think I've got it!"

Just as his feet touched the ground, Natsu's Aura flared up along with his power. Kenpachi grit his teeth as he felt something begin to actively push back against his attack as it slowly began travelling back upward.

"I didn't underestimate you," Natsu grunted as he lifted off the seafloor and moved skyward along with Kenpachi's attack. "I was merely being cautiously optimistic!"

"Huh-!?"

Kenpachi cut off his response, dodging his own attack as it was suddenly redirected back in his direction. The attack this time went completely unimpeded and shot off into the sky, vanishing from sight only for a significant portion of said sky to suddenly turn pitch black as an explosion went off.

"That was packing quite a bit of power," Ahnk muttered quietly as Natsu landed back on semi dry land. "That explosion was in low orbit …"

Natsu didn't reply, his eyes locked onto those of Kenpachi's as the Shinigami landed several metres across from him. In his mind he was considering his options and just how he should deal with the Saber Class Servant and just what the consequences of each action would ultimately be.

"You're strong, really strong," Natsu said after several moments. "In fact, I'd argue that aside from the version of Kaguya that was amped by Solomon, you're the strongest foe I've had to face since I lost my power."

"Heh, well how about that," Saber grinned as he swung his blade over his shoulder. "I'd say I'm flattered, but you know I'd be lying!"

"Naturally. I can tell you aren't one who gives two shits what other people think and honestly, I can respect that. That being said however, I just want to make something perfectly clear."

"Oh yeah, and what's that?"

"Even though I know you're only fighting me because Kizaru ordered you to, don't take these next hits personally."

Kenpachi lurched forward, looking down to see a fist firmly planted into his gut. A slight grunt escaped him as he was sent flying away at high speeds only to be kicked in the side and sent flying out into the open sea.

"The hell-!?"

Flipping mid-air, Kenpachi barely managed to block another punch with the flat of his blade and was still sent flying backward from the sheer force behind it. Immediately flying upward as fast as he could, the Saber Class Servant wracked his brain as he tried to figure out how Natsu was suddenly outclassing his own speed.

"Remember what I said before," Natsu said sharply as Kenpachi narrowly dodged a blow from behind only to get hit in the back by several more. "I was still adjusting, this much power isn't something I can just toss about carelessly!"

A blow to the centre of his back sent Kenpachj crashing down into the sea, the ocean itself momentarily parting before crashing atop his stunned form. The Servant watched as the ocean engulfed him, not particular trapped but rather simply shocked at the sudden one eighty the battle had taken for him.

A bright light seemed to be enough to bring his mind back onto the task at hand, however by that stage several crucial seconds had already passed and Natsu had already prepared his next attack.

Above the water, Natsu's right hand was coated in deep red flame. This fire was one he hadn't used in some time however he wouldn't lose himself in recollection like he usually would. Shaking his head, he raised the flame in his hand toward his mouth and bit into it, tearing a piece off before spitting it back out into his other hand, the piece now forged into a solid deep red ball.

"Hybrid's Aura: Fire Dragon Monarch's Hellfire Shell!"

Dropping the solid ball into the water, it sank instantly due to its weight. Aiming the hand with the fire in it toward the position he'd dropped the small ball, Natsu unleashed a potent torrent of fire so hot the ocean itself seemed to begin evaporating rapidly.

"Let's see how a Shinigami fares against the potent fires of hell itself, eh?"

Backing away, a massive pillar of flame erupted from the seafloor with Kenpachi caught at its centre. Steam quickly blanketed the area due to the intense heat combining with the ocean, quickly evaporating any water that tried to reach within several hundred metres of it.

Clenching his fists, Natsu dived right into the pillar with another attack fully charged and struck the stunned Kenpachi right in the gut, sending the Shinigami flying out of it and into the side of one of the last remaining islands where he was embedded into it.

Vanishing and appearing several metres away from the downed Servant, Natsu didn't even bother watching as his other attack concluded, fizzling out as the thick steam was quickly dispersed by the powerful gusts of wind being generated by the battle.

Looking down at the Servant, he appeared almost unconscious. His breathing was laboured, his body charred to a crisp and blood oozing from the spot Natsu had punched him, a sizeable hole exposing his insides to the world.

"Wow," Aava muttered as all three marvelled at the brutalized Servant before them. "Guess we really are underpowered without you being whole …"

"I'll say," Natsu muttered in response as he knelt down next to Kenpachi's still form. "I forgot how potent my attacks were when I had this much power behind me, he literally only took two of them and he's down for the count!"

"Not yet," Ahnk noted as the other two focused their attention on him. "Look, he's not fading away like a Servant would when defeated."

Not focusing on that crucial point was a mistake as Kenpachi's body exploded with power, the Shinigami taking a swing at Natsu who easily dodged it, appearing several metres away in a defensive stance.

"Heh … hehehehehe … hehehahahaha … HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"The hell, you shouldn't even be able to move in that condition!"

"And again," Kenpachi gasped as he coughed up a considerable amount of blood. "You're underestimating me!"

Dropping to all fours, Kenpachi let out a guttural roar which sent shockwaves out in all directions and shattered the ground beneath him. Natsu was unaffected by the pressure but still found himself shocked regardless at the combatant who should have been well and truly defeated.

"You want a real fight," Kenpachi roared as he slammed the pommel of Nozarashi into the ground. "CLOSING DRINK!"

"Unbelievable, he still has the power to release his Bankai in such a state," Ahnk shouted in Natsu's mind as the Shinigami's skin began to go a deep red colour not to dissimilar to Luffy's Gear Second.

The Zankupato, which had been a massive cleaver up until now, began to rapidly shorten in length back to a more manageable size with it now being only as long as Kenpachi's arm. The blade was now much more jagged, giving it a much more primal look.

As for Kenpachi himself, the three were shocked to see black marks began to form across his face and a set of horns sprout from his head, giving him the appearance of a Demon. Looking up sharply at Natsu, blood poured between Kenpachi's clenched teeth, an audible snarl escaping him as he jerked violently to stand upright.

"What … is this!?"

"This is the power of a Shinigami's Bankai, and it appears Kenpachi has an extraordinarily powerful one at that," Ahnk replied instantly as they felt the man's God's Aura trying to suffocate them. "We need to end this quickly or our friends will die as collateral!"

Gritting his teeth as Kenpachi vanished, Natsu was already mid dodge as the seemingly enraged Shinigami began trying to hack and slash away at him. With each swing, unfathomably powerful aerial slash attack were released that kept splitting the sea as far as the eye could see which gave Natsu only one option.

"Sorry about this, but we're moving this fight!"

Dodging several more strikes, Natsu used his palm to push the next attack off balance and struck. Delivering a fierce blow to the man's gut, Natsu vanished and kicked him in the back which sent him crashing down to the seafloor.

Kenpachi roared and spun around on his back to fire out dozens of the same powerful aerial slash attacks, forcing Natsu to use his speed to come at the man from the one single blind spot he had in his current position.

The floor itself.

Warping quite literally into the earth with his Crash Barrier active, Natsu shot upward beneath the enraged Saber and struck him in the back, knocking him into the air slightly as he emerged with both fists coated in Lightning and Gravity respectfully.

Kenpachi already recovered and swung his blade vertically however Natsu spun around and kicked it off to the side, the aerial slash attack cleaving apart the seafloor next to him as he then shot a bolt of Lightning at Kenpachi's free arm.

The man growled and tried to slash again however Natsu vanished and appeared behind him, kicking him in the back of the leg before quickly vanishing again as Kenpachi blindly swung behind him. Reappearing before the man, he fired a Tesla Spike that struck the Servant through his knee, eliciting only further roars as the man tried to advance even further toward him.

"Oh no you don't," Natsu growled as he brought his hands together with a clap, slowly parting them to reveal a ball of condensed Lightning. "Hybrid's Aura: Lightning Gravity Dragon Monarch's Lightning Sphere!"

A loud bang was heard as Natsu fired the attack at Kenpachi who simply reached out with his free hand and grabbed it. Almost instantly, the dangerous volts travelled through his body however the man continued to roar and crushed it, much to the shock of all three who hadn't expected the attack to be shrugged off so easily.

Natsu was further caught off guard however as Kenpachi decided he didn't want to be pinned down to the ground anymore. To rectify this, he simply ripped up the piece of the ground he'd been pinned to along with his leg and shot toward Natsu.

"Shit-!"

The two momentarily locked fists as Natsu felt a powerful shockwave run through him from the force behind it. Just as he was about to pull back, he was almost sliced in half by Kenpachi's Zankupato, the attack missing him only just as he narrowly dodged last second, some of his hair being sliced off in the process.

"That was way too fucking close," Natsu growled as Red Lightning erupted all around his body. "Get BACK!"

A loud boom signalled a lightning strike on Natsu's position which blasted Kenpachi backward several feet, the Shinigami's blade still showing obvious signs of it on his body with the occasional spark.

"I'm wrapping this up right now before you get any stronger!"

Kenpachi's response was to simply roar louder as bits of his skin began to flake off, something that told Natsu if he didn't end things soon then he may be unable to do so at all.

Vanishing from place, Natsu appeared right in front of Kenpachi and landed a brutal uppercut that sent the man skyward. Vanishing again, Natsu again landed another uppercut that sent him even higher and repeated the process several more times until both reached the stratosphere.

"Get ready for it Kenpachi," Natsu roared as his right fist became coated in black flame and his left in red sparks. "You'll be the first to take this upgraded form of my attack!"

Another roar was the response as both combatants vanished, charging toward each other with all their strength. Kenpachi's blade seemed to be becoming more and more twisted as more of his skin continued to flake away with some of his inner flesh and even bone becoming exposed as a direct result, however neither combatant either noticed nor cared.

"With the accursed flames of my right hand and the corrupted sparks of my left …!"

Kenpachi's roaring seemed to lessen slightly as he lost most of the skin on his torso, the eyes of the Shinigami showing a momentary sign of sentience which had been noticeably absent upon his transition into his Bankai state.

"Merge them together to create THE CHAOS OF PURGATORY-!"

As Natsu combined his two hands to create one attack, Kenpachi suddenly felt his consciousness return as a sudden memory struck him.

/?/

Why?

Why can't I find you?

Why can't I move on?

Why do I keep searching so hard?

Why do the others tell me to do so?

Why wasn't my strength enough in the end?

Why?

Kenpachi scratched his head as he looked out over the reconstruction of Hueco Mundo, the city having been mostly destroyed during the war. As he looked out upon it however, his mind wasn't on the fact that they had won, but what they had lost.

They were Shinigami, Soul Reapers charged with dealing with all matters of the soul. Of course, Kenpachi had never been one to really worry about the minute details of it, preferring to simply swing his blade at whatever old man Yamamoto told him to.

It usually worked out better for everyone that way.

Yet here he stood now with no more old man Yamamoto, many of his fellow Captains either missing and presumed dead or confirmed dead and his home in ruins.

How many years had it been since the defeat of Yhwach? How many years did it take before the next great conflict broke out and more of them were killed?

Before, it was only Hollows and the occasional rogue Shinigami or Quincy to deal with. Really, at one time he assumed Aizen was the be all end all bad guy and yet now here he stood once more overlooking the rebuilding phase.

Why?

He looked down at his chest and the rather noticeable lack of flesh there, his barely beating heart the only thing keeping him going as blood poured from countless wounds he could no longer feel.

Why was he cursed to live like this?

The answer was obvious though, as much as he really hated to admit it. His Bankai had essentially cursed him, granted him a power most other Shinigami were jealous of since it proved he'd been chosen by Lady Death as a favourite among their rank.

He was what Aizen was, a true immortal. A TRUE Death God.

And yet, what good did it do for him? He, a man who favoured naught but brutal combat and comradery? He was unable to fight with the same fervour he once did, knowing that his Bankai would save him in the end by making him virtually unkillable thanks to Lady Death's blessing.

Why couldn't he just die?

He wanted to die. He'd lived far too long and lost many whom he'd come to care for. Even the brat Ichigo had carked it during the war, killed by his own Son due to his inability to strike him down.

How he envied the orange haired idiot.

Holding out his Zankupato, Kenpachi's eyes ran over it tiredly as the form of a familiar face popped into existence before him. Ancient eyes showing none of their usual amusement, but silent understanding.

"What do you want from me now, eh?"

"Nothing," the woman replied softly as she placed a hand before Kenpachi's missing torso, restoring it within mere moments. "Other than to apologize."

"Finally got it through your head I ain't Reaper material?"

"You are, Kenpachi Zaraki, however you have lost far too much over the course of your very long life. My gift was not borne from malice or hatred, but of a desire to grant you the strength to combat the strongest foes in my name, as a chosen warrior of the Death Class."

"Can you undo it?"

"I'm afraid I cannot simply 'undo' my gift, as you so eloquently put it. But I can send you onto the afterlife regardless."

"Huh? How the hell does that work if I can't die?"

"You can in fact be killed, but only by me or a being whose power exceeds my own," the woman replied as she took a step backward. "If you truly desire release from this life, I shall send you on to the next great adventure."

"I obviously wanna die," Kenpachi snorted as he tossed his Zankupato over toward the woman who caught it expertly. "But before I do, there's something I wanna know?"

"Of course, you most certainly have the right to have your questions answered," the woman replied kindly as Kenpachi steeled himself, the foreign feeling of nervousness running through him as he took a deep breath.

"I-I wanna see her again," Kenpachi stuttered out. "The real one, not the one my Zankupato imitates. Can you make that happen?"

"Ah," the woman hummed as she took several steps forward. "In a certain way I can, however … you will need to wield your strength in order to truly acquire that which you seek."

"So, there is a way-!?"

"You were already destined a spot in this place regardless Kenpachi, so in a way this really will be mostly on you, but nevertheless I feel you deserve some additional information on how to obtain that which you seek."

"Stop beating around the bush and just tell me!"

"Due to your notoriety, and the countless deeds performed across your long time amidst the realm of the living, you have been granted a place within the Throne Of Heroes. Many others you know also reside there such as Ichigo Kurosaki, Genryusai Yamamoto, Yhwach, Sosuke Aizen and Ulquiorra Cifer are but a few who exist there."

This shocked Kenpachi to the core as he searched the woman's eyes for any sign of deceit. A place where both enemies and allies alike resided, but why!?

"To exist upon the Throne Of Heroes, one must be notable in their history. As you can guess, the likes of those I just mentioned were obviously rather notable and you are likewise worthy of a place. However, there is a chance that you could be summoned to fight for a chance to have any one wish granted …"

"A wish," Kenpachi murmured before looking back up to the woman once more. "And I can see her again if I do this?"

"Assuming you win, then yes," the woman replied with a nod as Kenpachi clenched his fists.

"A chance to see her again … I'll do it!"

"Very well," the woman sighed as she suddenly thrust Kenpachi's own Zankupato through his heart. "From this moment forth, the permanent immortality granted by me is null, however the ability to enter 'that' form, is still fully available to you."

Kenpachi couldn't even speak as she swiftly yanked the blade free from his chest, dropping onto his back as his vision slowly began to fade.

"Consider that my final gift to you, Kenpachi Zaraki … my unwilling chosen of the Death Class."

"Heh, thanks," Kenpachi wheezed as he raised a shaking hand to the bright sun above. "A chance to see her again … even as slim as it is … I'd call us even."

And with that, the legendary Kenpachi Zaraki was no more.

/End Flashback/

Suddenly, Kenpachi was fully aware of his surroundings despite still being in his Bankai form. He could feel his flesh slowly peeling away and knew exactly what was happening to him.

Looking up however he could see Natsu's monstrous attack and grinned. This was how it should be, how his life should have always been. Fighting for both a goal and for one's own life … THAT was what always drove him to seek out the strong, to face those who most feared above all else.

"Hybrid's Aura: Dragon Slayer's Secret Art – Black Deathbell: Forsaken Lightning Flame Blade!"

Kenpachi couldn't help but laugh as the colossal blade made of black flame and red sparks came down upon him. It was in his very being to feel such excitement from combat and right now he was fighting a powerful opponent.

Natsu grit his teeth as the attack engulfed Kenpachi, feeling a strong resistance even as the attack exploded, sending the man flying back down to the earth at sonic speeds. Vanishing and reappearing right as Kenpachi struck the earth, Natsu cut off the black flames and red sparks and focused all his power on sensing Kenpachi down in the massive crater under the sea.

"Surely that attack did him in," Natsu muttered internally as Aava hummed in agreement. "Fire and Lightning imbued with Black Magic and Hybrid's Aura would have taken out even many of the Titans we've faced in the past."

All three froze however as a shadow appeared within the smoke that rose from the crater at the centre of the impact zone. Looking around, Natsu noticed that the water had been pushed back a considerable distance but was rapidly closing in and knew that if Kenpachi was still kicking and ready to fight, he'd emerge or be drowned.

To their horror however, Kenpachi did emerge, however it was his form that had even Ahnkseram at a complete loss for words.

"So … care to explain what this is all about?"

"I-I have no idea … I've never seen anything like it before," Ahnk stuttered out as the form of Kenpachi floated up to meet them.

Audible cracking noises could be heard as a black shroud enveloped the Saber Class Servant, masking most of his face save for the ominous glowing Pure White eyes beneath the hood. The shroud went down past his torso however Kenpachi had apparently lost his legs during the attack and thus, the tattered end of the cloak blew in the wind to reveal the bottom of his spine.

And finally, slung across his shoulder was what they all identified as his Zankupato. The weapon was no longer a sword, but had become a proper scythe which retained the damaged appearance of Nozarashi itself, the blade not only appearing worn and damaged but also sporting rust across its jagged edge.

"Wh-what the hell are you," Natsu stuttered out prompting Kenpachi to laugh.

"Me? I'm still the same old Kenpachi," the Servant laughed as power exploded from his form, power far greater than any Servant he'd encountered during his journey thus far. In fact, the only entities he could even compare such power to would be the still bound Sut-Typhon and Achnologia.

The man then proceeded to laugh as the power of Death settled over the area. All around them things began to die both flora and fauna alike and Natsu was glad they weren't near Sabaody at that moment.

"Are you ready for it," Kenpachi asked suddenly which snapped Natsu's attention fully back onto his opponent. "This is a power only those chosen from the Death Class can wield …"

"What did he just say-!?"

"This, this is the final stage of a Shinigami's journey of power and the uppermost limits of the Zankupato," Kenpachi explained as he placed the scythe back over his shoulders and entered an attack stance. "This … is Shi."

"Death," Ahnk muttered softly as they felt the power of Death wash over them once more. "No wonder he looks like that … like the Grim Reapers depicted in legend, he's literally one of Death's Chosen!"

"So, you were picked by Death as one of her chosen," Natsu said, mimicking Ahnk's own thoughts prompting the Shinigami to nod.

"I was chosen because I was one of the aspects of Death given form. I was Destruction and so Lady Death decided I was to become one of her chosen which meant I ended up with the power to use this form."

"Were you the only one?"

"No," Kenpachi replied instantly which further shocked the trio. "The other one who possessed this power, and still does as far as I'm aware to this day … was Aizen."

"Aizen!? He's that powerful!?"

"You have no idea," Kenpachi laughed bitterly. "Aizen was always different from the rest of us since he was appointed Devil of our world. Those powers, combined with his powers of Death, brought him rather close to becoming like you or Ahnkseram."

"What!?"

"Of course, no one was about to allow that and so he tried to get that power for himself in a failed coup which Ichigo stopped. After that, he seemed content in honing what powers he had … until-."

"Stop," Natsu said suddenly as he felt something digging into his head. "Something tells me if you go on any further that it'll speak of events in my future."

"Ah, time travel bullshit eh?"

"Time, Space and Reality … yeah."

"Heh, seems like you'll have quite the bit of fun ahead of you then," Kenpachi laughed only for the audible cracking sound to ramp up in its pitch. "That is, assuming you can survive me!"

"Natsu," Ahnk said calmly as both combatants vanished and reappeared right before each other, Natsu's blade blocking Kenpachi's scythe. "We don't have much longer before-."

"I know. I'll hit him with everything I've got from the start. This is clearly his final form so if I overpower this, then it's over."

Both combatants broke away from the clash with Kenpachi spinning his scythe so fast it was no longer visible. As he spun it, the bladed edge fired out Pure White aerial slash attacks as Natsu entered a defensive stance and began cutting through them.

"That sword of yours is definitely something to block an attack from my Zankupato in this form!"

"Yeah, well … I'm also full of surprises!"

After slicing apart the last slash, Natsu charged toward Kenpachi who moved to block the attack. However, upon reaching his position, the Servant wasn't expecting Natsu to go for a direct forward thrust and was forced to angle his body so that it passed through the gaps in his bones.

"Hah!"

Positioning his scythe behind Natsu's head, he tried to decapitate him but failed as the Hybrid suddenly dropped downward into a horizontal position with his feet ignited with flame.

"Hybrid's Aura: Fire Dragon Monarch's Destabilizing Talon!"

Taking the swipe at Kenpachi, the Servant was forced to dodge backward so that Natsu's sword didn't slice apart his bones. This however wasn't the most ideal way to dodge since it not only gave Natsu his blade back, but it also left him open to be struck by the other leg.

Bringing his scythe around, Kenpachi blocked the second kick with the flat of the blade but was blasted back by the following explosion. Natsu followed this up by firing off several high-powered aerial slash attacks of his own before vanishing in a burst of speed.

"That won't be enough," Kenpachi roared as he spun Nozarashi several times to slice apart Natsu's attacks, his last slash deliberately coming from below at just the right moment. "HAH!"

Natsu was caught off guard as the attack knocked his blade out of his hand, the blade now spinning in front of the pair. Just as Kenpachi was about to make a comment, a hand caught the blade and took a swipe at the Shinigami, slashing him across his skeletal face which left a noticeable crack.

"Thanks for that," Natsu muttered as he clenched his fists.

"No problem."

Kenpachi grit his teeth as Ahnkseram appeared, semi draped over Natsu's own form and holding the blade in his right hand. This wasn't something he had anticipated the pair being capable of and thus, was a means by which he'd been caught off guard.

Suddenly, Kenpachi found himself on the defensive as Natsu and Ahnk layed into him with a series of powerful blows, his scythe barely capable of blocking them all. Eventually, Natsu landed a solid punch to his head which sent him flying backward before finding himself being knocked down to the ground.

The pair had landed on a small island in the middle of nowhere made up of little more than dirt and some cacti which had been killed the moment Kenpachi's presence washed over them. The Shinigami rose from the crater and looked over at Natsu and sighed.

"Kind of a shame I'm only able to draw out a certain amount of my former power thanks to my Master, I'd have liked to fight you to the death …"

"For what it's worth," Natsu said as he clenched his right fist. "You rank in the top five strongest foes I've faced in my life, even as a Servant. Honestly, if you were alive, you'd probably beat my ass."

"Heh, maybe this version of you," Kenpachi replied as he held his scythe out to his right. "Looks like this is it, I can feel the power being supplied to me beginning to wane so …"

Kenpachi's scythe was suddenly coated in a blackish substance that reeked of Death, power exploding from its tip as the air around Natsu began to crackle.

"Yeah, about time we wrapped this up," Natsu replied as a pillar of pure power exploded around him, his fist now coated in a black so deep, one might argue it wasn't viewable to the ordinary eye at all. "You'll be the first I get to use this new technique on so I hope you've got something to match it!"

"Heh, funny guy …"

Both combatants charged forward, meeting at the centre of the island. Natsu's fist was cocked back as was Kenpachi's Zankupato. The sky above them rumbled as the clouds split in two right where the clash was fated to occur.

"Elder God's Aura: Death God's Cosechador de almas!"

"Hybrid's Aura: Black Art Sacrament – IIV EdicieD :Yticorta Taerg Eht!"

"Oi Natsu, you sure you wanna use that!? If the Gods and Devils in Equilibrius see you using that-!?"

But Natsu's ear wasn't on Ahnkseram's words, his focus locked entirely on the Death God before him. He knew he needed to wrap up this fight quickly if Rayleigh's plan was going to work, therefore, even if he had to resort to such foul Arts to win … he would.

His fist came into contact with the Scythe, the resulting clash oozing power so foul the colour of the space around them vanished which left the area a dull and lifeless grey. Natsu and Kenpachi pushed against each other with all their power until, to the mutual surprise of both attackers, Natsu's fist slipped off of the flat of the scythe.

Natsu audible grunted as the scythe lodged itself into his chest, ripping right through a lung as he felt the power of Death begin to creep through his insides. Fortunately, despite the chill now running through him, he was still able to aim his attack and struck Kenpachi right in the centre of his skeletal face.

"HAAAAAARGH, TAKE IT," Natsu roared as the space all around them began to crack, the Death now confused upon Kenpachi's link with it being momentarily interrupted. Colour quickly returned to the space, the area shattering like glass as the entire island beneath them was converted into cubes and blasted toward Kenpachi's side of the clash at high speeds.

The ocean water quickly followed, which was subsequently followed by the seafloor beneath that as everything from the fists point of impact all the way out to a kilometre was converted to cubes and blasted away.

Kenpachi himself was not converted into cubes, however his face was now cracked significantly as the final push from Natsu sent his skeletal form rocketing off along with all the rubble and cubed water.

His scythe was yanked out as he was sent flying, ripping out a section of Natsu's chest which he promptly repaired before shooting up high into the sky. Extending his hands outward, he then grabbed everything that had been cubed and lifted it into the air whilst watching Kenpachi come to a stop at what would have been the seafloor a considerable distance away.

And as the Saber Class Servant lay there, his skeletal form struggling to maintain itself with his Shi working overtime on regenerating itself, and his seemingly victorious foe obscured by the sun … he had one last thought.

/?/

"So, you guys think that she's just dead?"

"Kenpachi, listen man-!"

"You'd better pick your next words real fucking careful like with me, Gotei," Kenpachi growled as said Shinigami scarped back from his utterly furious boss.

"B-b-but K-Kenpachi-!"

"So, you all think the same," Kenpachi spat as he rounded on the rest of the Eleventh Division. "You really think that she'd just up and die on me like that!?"

"W-well …"

"Kenpachi, just hear us the fuck out!"

Kenpachi clenched his fists and turned toward the man that silenced the rest of the group, looking toward the one who had taken 'HER' place.

"Got something to say to me, Ikkaku?"

"You're damn well right I do," the Lieutenant snapped back as he took several steps toward the furious Captain. "Do you have any idea how hard it is for us to keep going on like this!? We've been searching for FUCKING FIVE YEARS and haven't found a trace of her!"

"So what!?"

"Kenpachi," Ikkaku snarled as he grabbed the larger man by the coat, an act that had everyone else freezing in place due to the sheer power of the man before them. "SHE'S NOT MISSING, SHE'S NOT KIDNAPPED AND SHE'S NOT FUCKING HIDING! JUST ADMIT IT KENPACHI, YACHIRU IS-!"

Ikkaku didn't have a chance to finish his sentence as a punch to the side of the head sent him sprawling to the floor, a flood of unrestrained power coming down upon the rest of the assembled Eleventh Division who all dropped to their knees.

"You have the nerve to stand there and talk such shit Ikkaku? After all we've been through?"

"It's because of all we've been through … all we've accomplished together … and all that you've taught me," Ikkaku muttered as he wiped some blood from the corner of his mouth. "Kenpachi … I owe you so much for what you've done for me and I'll never be able to repay it, you know that. So please …"

Kenpachi's rage slowly fizzled out as he watched Ikkaku, a rather rude, violent and hard headed bastard, get down on all fours and bow his head with tears clearly visible in his eyes.

"Kenpachi … We all miss Yachiru, we really do, but we can't keep doing this both to ourselves … but more importantly to you, our Captain!"

"The hell are you doin Ikkaku … stop that-."

"CAPTAIN KENPACHI," Ikkaku cried as the rest of the Eleventh Division slowly began to mimic Ikkaku's actions. "Please listen to us …"

"What …"

"Yachiru … she's dead."

Kenpachi was frozen at Ikkaku's words. They were words no one had dared utter before him at any point. Not even Ichigo dared say such a thing before the mighty Captain of the Eleventh Division, fearful of the repercussions such a statement would invoke.

"We've searched every last square inch of the known world by now Kenpachi, finding fucking nothing," Ikkaku continued as Kenpachi began to shake. "Yachiru fought well, fought harder than any of us during the war … and we're dishonouring her by not celebrating her life and achievements!"

"…"

"She was one of the best the Eleventh had, and she died in its service. For all our sakes, please see this as well, Kenpachi!"

Ikkaku looked up, his eyes full of tears, and was stunned into silence with whatever words were about to follow up his previous request.

Instead of seeing a furious death glare, Ikkaku was met with a Kenpachi so vastly alien he could scarcely even comprehend it. The man the entire Eleventh Division looked up to, the beast that couldn't be stopped and the one who bore the illustrious title of Kenpachi … was crying.

"K-Kenpachi …"

Ikkaku, and by extension the rest of the Eleventh Division's wish, was to have their Captain see reason. With Yachiru having been gone for half a decade now, it was simply time for them all to face the fact that she truly had died in battle.

Kenpachi's denial was literally killing them.

However, the sight before them was arguably worse than acknowledging Yachiru's demise. Their beloved Leader was what none believed possible, completely and utterly broken.

"Y-Yachiru," Kenpachi whispered as he held out his hands, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. "I-I failed you …"

/End Flashback/

"Heh, so that's how it's gonna be," the Saber Class Servant muttered as the sun slowly faded to reveal a massive spike made from everything Natsu had raised up to his position. "Seems like this Grail War ain't gonna be the one …"

Watching as Natsu applied Divine power onto the spike, Kenpachi chuckled softly. Even as his wounds regenerated thanks to his Shi, the man knew he was about to die again. Raising his hand up to the cracks of sunlight that peeked through the attack, a lone tear escaped from his right eye socket.

"Sorry … It looks like our little reunion'll have to wait," Kenpachi muttered as the tip of the massive spike pierced through his skull, shattering it into pieces as his entire body began to glow in a golden light before bursting into thousands of golden light particles.

But I'll be there one day … Yachiru.

So, hope no one minds I went with that for Kenpachi. I figured using their Father/Daughter bond and having Kenpachi's wish for the Grail being to meet with her again was a really good argument for having him as a Servant.

Anyway, hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you in the next one!