"Good. They aren't dead." Renji pulled the chains away from Shūhei's body after confirming he was still breathing. He didn't mean to doubt his fellow Lieutenant's ability, but compared to Captain Muguruma and Lieutenant Kuna, he was considerably more at risk.
To think that all three of them were taken out, though. Renji knew all too well how powerful that masked Quincy was, but he'd been working with another Quincy when they killed Captain Kuchiki. Had he always had this much power, or had he gotten that much stronger in such a short time? Renji clenched his fist and felt the power held there. It wasn't so unlikely, based on his own experience.
He stood, taking special care to keep his breathing steady. One of the bastards responsible for the Captain's death was right in front of him. Every fiber of his being itched to draw his sword and settle his grudge right away. He wanted it so bad it hurt. He held back, though. The safety of the 9th Division's officers took priority. There was also the issue of supporting Captain Ōtoribashi.
Two powerful Quincies bearing down on a single Captain . . . it was an eerily familiar scene. The similarities would end there. This time, he wouldn't just stall for time, and fail miserably. He trusted Captain Ōtoribashi to handle the Quincy he was currently engaging. That left the job of luring the masked Quincy away to him.
Rukia touched down beside him. "Rushing ahead by yourself was a bit reckless, don't you think?"
"Nah," he shrugged, smirking, "I knew you were right behind me. With you watching my back, I bet I could bust through the walls of the enemy's fortress and make it out alright."
The corners of her mouth drooped even further, but a great deal of tension left her body. Renji didn't think he'd ever managed to do that before. Even when they were kids, he got the impression he put her on edge more often than not. Now, even as her frown deepened, her expression softened. The fluffy looking hat she'd gotten from Shutara framed her face really well with its drooping sides and . . .
And he was getting distracted again. Time to rein it in. "Can you take Captain Muguruma and his Lieutenants somewhere safe? I don't know if I'll be able to keep them out of the fight like this."
"I can," Rukia said, kneeling to check their condition for herself, "but I think it would be better to fight together. We could beat the masked Quincy quickly, then lend our support to Captain Ōtoribashi." She looked up at him. Her eyes met his. There wasn't a hint of doubt in those lilac pools.
No, no. No more of that.
Renji saw the logic, but he still shook his head. "That would be smart, but there's something I want to do."
"You're looking to get back at that Quincy then?"
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't. But that isn't my only reason." Renji looked out at the masked man, cracking his knuckles and stalking around him and Rukia like a bird of prey. "Losing to that guy was one of the lowest moments of my life. I don't think I've ever felt so weak and useless, even when you were detained and sentenced to death. The way I am now . . . I think I've left that weakness behind for good. Going into this fight alone, I want to confirm that. I want to know that I've grown. See it with my own eyes. Feel it, you know?"
Rukia looked up at him, worry plain on her face. That hurt a little. But then she nodded. "Alright. If you feel that strongly about it, I won't get in your way." She set about picking up their injured allies while Renji's jaw dropped. Did she just listen to his reasoning? He could count the times she did that on one hand!
It was such an intense shock that he almost cried out. Instead, he picked his jaw off the floor and quietly said, "Thank you, Rukia."
She smiled at him and his heart skipped a beat. "Don't get me wrong, Lieutenant Abarai. If you lose after saying all that, I won't ever forgive you." With the others piled onto her shoulders, she turned to leave. "Oh! And don't forget to check on Captain Ōtoribashi after you finish up here." She shot him one last smile, brimming with confidence, and then leapt off towards the 4th Division barracks.
"Right . . . no pressure." He chuckled, realizing that he really didn't feel any pressure. Not a bit. Something about that look made him feel like he could do anything. Dangerous, that. But it was just the boost he needed to face this foe, not as the Lieutenant who couldn't support his Captain, but as the new and improved Abarai Renji!
"What's this? Your friend is retreating already? I'm not that intimidating, am I?" The Quincy laughed as he approached. The sound almost sent a chill down Renji's spine.
Almost.
"What's your name, Quincy?" He ignored the taunts. He wouldn't be riled up so easily. Not anymore. "I'm not super fond of killing complete strangers, even if they are barely better than Hollows."
"I'll let that insult slide this time, Shinigami. After all, I'd never pass up an opportunity to spread my glorious name! I am Mask de Masculine! Hero of Justice and executor of His Majesty's will! I am the savior who will bring the Seireitei to its-!" He cut off, mid-flex as Renji swung his sword. Zabimaru extended, nearly biting into the Quincy's broad chest. It's teeth came away with only bits of fabric. Mask looked down at the slash in his overtaxed uniform, wide-eyed.
"My name is Abarai Renji, Lieutenant of Division 6. Kuchiki Byakuya was my Captain."
Mask's face glowed red under his mask. It was doubtful he heard a single word Renji said. "You . . . You . . . !" He held up a finger, "One! You dared damage my uniform! Two! " He held up a second finger, "You gave me your name as if you were an equal exchanging pleasantries!" His face started to turn a light shade of purple. A third finger went up. "And three! You had the gall to interrupt my introduction! Un! For! Givable!"
A little bald man popped out of nowhere and started pumping his fists. "You don't have to take that crap, mister! This guy ain't nothing! He's a nobody! Unfit to shine your shoes! Show him who's boss, Superstar!"
The air around Mask grew heavy. Dense, even. He began to flex and his uniform stretched even more tightly over his skin. Renji could hear the fibers tearing away as his muscles bulged, gorging themselves on some mysterious power that Renji couldn't sense.
The Quincy was growing larger by the second. The change in height was negligible, but his girth nearly doubled. The color of his mask darkened in tandem with his absurd muscular growth, turning black as he finally became too big for most clothing to contain. His uniform practically exploded off his body, revealing an absolute mountain of a man.
A man parading around, flexing in his underwear. Renji cringed at the odd, bright red stars covering his nipples. Mask seemed too absorbed in his transformation to care. He continued to flex and the strange little man continued to cheer.
Mask's enraged eyes finally turned back to Renji and his voice boomed, "I am Mask de Masculine, and I will crush you until nothing remains!" He kicked off, nearly vanishing, and dove at Renji feet first.
His boots missed their mark, but just barely. Renji smiled to himself, "Is that all you've got? After all that shouting?"
"Keep talking, Shinigami," Mask spat. "As a villain, every word out of your mouth puts you another foot deeper into the ground!" He launched himself again, reaching even greater speeds.
But Renji was ready for it this time. He sidestepped the man-missile and raised his sword. As Mask passed by, he slammed the butt of his hilt into the Quincy's stomach. The ground cracked as all of Mask's speed and force was redirected straight down. "Call me a villain all you like. It won't stop me from kicking the shit out of you." A swift kick sent Mask spiraling through the air.
The over muscled Quincy recovered immediately. He had a small trail of blood pooling at the corner of his mouth. "You're a fool. An utter fool! The cocky boasting of a villain is akin to a steroid for heroes like me. Isn't that right, James?"
"You bet, sir!"
"You've powered me up even further, foolish Shinigami! My punch will now be ten times as powerful as before!"
Renji cocked his head. "That's great and all, but I didn't know how strong your punch was before, so that doesn't really mean anything to me."
Mask howled, enraged and bloodthirsty, and dove in once again. This time, he threw a punch that seemed to pull the air along with it. His massive fist bore down on Renji.
And Renji caught it. Surprising Mask, his little companion, and even himself, Renji held that devastating punch in a single cupped hand. He could feel the immense force behind it, but it just . . . didn't matter. The weight, the power, was barely worth mentioning. This was one of the men that defeated Captain Kuchiki? It was frustrating as much as it was amazing.
"Not so great after all, I guess." Renji threw the Quincy's fist down and threw a punch of his own. His fist may have been much smaller than his enemy's, but when it made contact he heard the distinct sound of cartilage being crushed, and Mask was sent flying again.
+ Shift +
Mask dug his fingers into the ground, creating thick troughs before coming to a stop. He could hear James crying out for him, but the words were lost amidst rage-induced white noise. His blood boiled, white hot and molten!
Encountering a worthy foe was one thing. Pulling out all the stops to best them was fulfilling and added a great deal to Mask's legendary exploits. But this putrid Shinigami was a different story. The arrogance! The nonchalance! He strolled in after Mask had gained the upper hand against two Captains and acted as if he were simply stronger. As if Mask weren't exhausted from fighting two Captains!
But no. That was how cowards thought. He wouldn't sit back and complain about fairness. He would push forward with all of his righteous fury and pummel that Shinigami and this entire situation into the ground!
James's cries might have been muffled by the blood pumping through his skull, but Mask could still reap benefits from it. New life entered his veins, spreading through his expanded muscles. His nose crackled, reforming into its proper, glorious shape.
Hirenkyaku brought Mask in close before AbaraiRenji could react. The fool's expression didn't even have time to change as Mask reeled back for an extra powerful punch. Air condensed around his wrist as his fist broke the sound barrier on its way to pop the fiery haired Shinigami's head like a melon!
Mask's wrist buckled as it made contact. But he didn't reach the villain's head. Instead, the Shinigami held up a hand and caught his fist like they were playing catch. Even worse, he didn't seem to put any effort into stopping that devastating attack! The nerve! Anticipating another humiliating send off, Mask pulled back again. He planted his feet and the muscles in his back quivered. His other hand shot in and was blocked, so he threw another punch. And then another. Each attempt to reach the Shinigami came up short.
Rage pumped through Mask's arms, driving them faster and faster. If he could not land one super powerful attack, then he'd settle for breaking apart the enemy's defense with hundreds, no, thousands of weaker blows. And when That nonchalant wall finally fell, he'd pulverize this cocky bastard and feed him to his fish!
James's cries barely reached him, but he accepted their supportive power. His arms pumped faster still, drawing copious amounts of dust from the ground through sheer velocity. He let that dust clog up his eyes. It was a minor discomfort that would not stop him from holding this villain down.
Eventually, the Shinigami began to crumble, falling to his knees, probably. Mask couldn't see him kneeling in front of him, nor could he see the look of frustration and terror that was surely contorting his face, but he didn't let that stop him. He followed his enemy down, leaning into his barrage and pushing the Shinigami closer and closer to the ground. And then his punches started to connect.
His fists slammed into the Shinigami's hardened defenses without any sort of resistance. He heard bones breaking every time he threw a punch and an occasional fragment of bone bounced off of his skin. He roared, pushing through the blinding dust and finishing his enemy once and for all. This was it! He opened his ears, hoping to breathe in James's cheers, but what he heard stopped his assault dead.
"Mister . . . help . . ." It was a quiet voice. Weak. Completely unlike James. Mask spun, waving his massive arm and dismissing the cloud of dust. His eyes widened as he saw Abarai looming over James, who was reaching out to his Superstar.
It started with his pudgy little fingers. They broke apart, pieces falling away as if they'd been subjected to a master chef's knife. James's mouth worked silently as his entire body collapsed into a pile of finely chopped meat.
"James!" Mask howled, watching his biggest fan fall to pieces.
The Shinigami sniffed, "That was a lot easier than I was expecting."
"Hold your tongue! I knew you were a villain, but to think you would be so despicable as to strike down an innocent bystander!"
"'Innocent bystander' my ass." The heinous bastard kicked at the pile of James. Contemptible monster. "This is a battlefield, in case you forgot. You won't find any innocent bystanders out here. Especially not ones that cheer so hard." He stepped over the pile and into Mask's range. The fool! That casual attitude really screwed him this time.
Mask loomed over him, muscles twitching with excitement. This time, he wouldn't let the Shinigami escape so slyly. He would pin him down and then beat the snot out of him!
The Lieutenant's sword arm moved. It looked like such a casual movement, like a stretch. But when his blade slowed, its massive teeth were coated in blood. The unbearable pain hit Mask moments later. He doubled over, clutching his stomach as searing hot red liquid spilled out from between his abs. The slimy weight of viscera pushed against the gash, threatening to burst out onto the ground.
How could he have cut him so easily? To say nothing of his durability, Mask's senses were sharp enough to follow the movements of even the most powerful foes. Not even Lord Haschwalth could escape his sight in his current state.
"This doesn't sit right with me. What's your deal, Quincy?" Abarai leaned over, balancing on the balls of his feet to get a clear look at Mask's agonized face. "I know you had help before, but I just can't believe you were strong enough to beat Captain Kuchiki. Where's the gimmick, huh? Prove to me that a man I respected didn't die to some kind of fluke."
Mask tried to spit in the cocky villain's eye, but his teeth were chattering too much to keep his mouth closed. Even then, all of his strength was draining from everywhere but his arms, which were desperately holding his organs inside his body. He was filled with such hot guts, so why did he feel so cold?!
The Shinigami clicked his tongue and stood. "I can't believe this."
"C-Captain K-K-Kuchiki . . . you said that before . . . Now I rem-remember . . . you." Mask channeled all of his power into his abdomen. With one mighty crunch he folded his incredible muscles over the gash, sealing it shut by sheer force of will! "I defeated . . . you before Äs . . . and I k-killed t-the Captain." The ground was no place for a hero. He needed to stand. He needed to show the forces of evil that justice would never kneel. He needed to demonstrate just how great he was! He swayed and stumbled, but made it back to his feet. "I will admit . . . you h-have grown . . . so much stronger. I'm . . . impressed. But e-even so . . ." He raised his chin and set his jaw, then he fixed his determined gaze on the Shinigami, "You are still a villain! Scum in human form! And I will never, never fall to the likes of you! Isn't that right, James?"
"You got it, mister!"
The cocky Lieutenant spun, wide eyed. That was how a villain should look; shocked by the power of heroic resolve.
"This loser can't hold a candle to you, sir! That's for sure!" The chunk of meat that held James' mouth bounced and flapped, no doubt causing Abarai a great deal of confusion. The fool. All these villains were so easy to read. The Superstar was invincible, so of course its most important aspect would be immortal!
"Let me hear it, James!"
"Yes, Superstar!" All of the chunks of James began to quiver and bounce. They undulated and writhed, skittering across the ground. And then they started to transform. Each little piece turned into a miniature James all its own. Each tiny James had a mouth with which to heap praise and admiration onto their Superstar!
The gash in Mask's stomach sizzled as the wound knit itself closed. The warmth returned, as did his strength. Abarai was raising his sword to strike his horde of fans, but Mask was no longer crippled. He crashed into the villain, sending him skidding away.
That power really was something else. It was uncanny! Mask couldn't think of any way he could have achieved such strength besides cheating. Typical of one so evil!
Abarai glared through his guard, looking as if he'd felt that lariat in his bones. Good. Freakishly powerful though he may be, he was not an invincible monster. That meant he could be beaten, which meant Mask would beat him. No mortal thing could escape justice's guillotine.
Mask charged again, raining blows upon the villain and pushing him across the Seireitei. The swarm of Jameses followed close, providing a never ending supply of power. They crashed through buildings and over battles, slamming their wills against each other. This bout would go down in history! It would be legendary!
The grateful masses would soon sing Mask's name to the heavens and he would ascend to godhood!
Abarai hit the ground and stumbled. Finally! Mask had been waiting oh so patiently for such an opportunity. It was time for the decisive blow! "Give me everything you have, James!"
The swarm of little bald men churned, crashing against themselves like the roughest of waters. They screamed in heartfelt chorus, "Save the world, Superstar!"
Heat. Mask's blood erupted into the white hot flames of justice. He began to pull power from his surroundings, an unrelenting flow that went far beyond his control. Not that he would want to staunch the surge of ambrosia coursing through his veins.
He glowed a magnificent blue-white, pure energy streaming off of his chiseled body. That raw power entered his mask, his briefs, his mustache, every inch of him was invested. He imagined his ultimate heroic form taking shape, and a billowing blue-white cape coalesced around his neck. As he leapt into the air, its tails formed three points that, taken together with the high pointed collar, created the image of a radiant star.
He was a star!
Floating proudly high above the ground, Mask laughed. This was the end, once and for all! "Abarai Renji! You've done well to last as long as you have! If I didn't know any better, I would think you had a small amount of heroic blood in those cursed veins of yours! But even were that the case, I would have no choice but to snuff out your villainous existence! Behold your demise, avatar of evil!"
Mask took off, flying faster than a bullet. He inscribed a massive star in the air, leaving a sizzling trail of blue-white energy. When he finished his mural he took his position at its peak and struck a pose. Hands on hips, heels together, chest out, chin up . . . the image of Justice itself!
"Goodbye, Abarai Renji! Star Flash!" The sky star shone brighter than the sun. All of the power Mask had accumulated congealed in its heart. He swung his arm as the pressure reached critical mass. "Super Nova!"
Mask's entire body buzzed when the beam fired. A low, bass-y tone rocked his eardrums, dampening the catastrophic crash when it hit the ground, engulfing Abarai in its brilliance. All of the James got caught up in the blast as well, which was unfortunate. There was nothing to fear, however! As long as Mask himself lived, and so the power of The Superstar existed, James would return to life no worse for wear!
The blinding light of his hyper powered beam faded, revealing a giant star-shaped scar in the earth below. A perfect monument for the new world. People would visit this site and send him their prayers and thanks for defending their future!
Mask laughed uncontrollably. At least, he did until a sudden spike of Spiritual Pressure appeared just behind him.
He spun, eyes bulging, and beheld an impossible creature.
His mind went blank.
+ Shift +
Sōō Zabimaru.
That name echoed in Renji's soul. The true name of his Zanpakuto. The power held in this form nearly took his breath away. This was still Zabimaru, he knew that, but how could it be so much stronger than before? Had he really grown this much in so short a time?
The giant skeletal snake of Hihiō Zabimaru was gone, replaced by a much smaller skull covering his fist like a gauntlet. His new blade, a simple large cleaver of a sword, extended from its incomplete jaws. A thick fur cape flew over his shoulder, its true shape hidden. It was so drastically different.
And yet, it felt so right!
Renji regarded the glowing Quincy and his bulging eyes. The half naked man was so full of Reishi that it was a wonder he hadn't split apart. He was a formidable enemy by any stretch. But Renji didn't feel any fear. Uncertainty melted before it could reach the forefront of his mind. With his new Bankai, he could beat him. He didn't have any doubts.
"You!" Mask screamed, foaming at the mouth. He shot forward, arm extended to strike. Renji's cape convulsed and took the shape of a large, ape-like arm. It grabbed Mask's arm tight and wrenched it sharply. The snap faded into the empty air.
His durability couldn't stand up to Zabimaru's strength. The outcome of this fight was clear.
Renji swung his sword, sliding his blade into Mask's stomach. He clenched his fist and a pair of fanged jaws appeared above and below him. The name of this attack came to his mind as if it were natural. "Zaga Teppō." The jaws closed, encasing Mask in their fiery forms. Reishi pooled in Renji's fist and exploded out, cremating the entombed Quincy.
Zaga Teppō faded and all that was left of Mask was a pile of ash just barely holding his shape. Renji pulled his blade out of the desiccated corpse and it fell apart, disappearing on the wind.
Renji let out a long breath. He'd just taken revenge, right? But for some reason, he didn't feel like it was over. Right, there was still one other Quincy out there with the Captain's blood on his hands.
He wanted to go and find the other one right away, but his arms suddenly felt extremely heavy. Zabimaru reverted to its unreleased form and disappeared to wait for its master to summon it again. That was convenient.
Renji was in no shape to jump into another fight. It must have had something to do with the training, or maybe he wasn't quite used to this new power yet. Either way, he needed to rest and regain his strength. He set out for the 4th Division barracks feeling less than satisfied.
He'd taken out a major threat to the Seireitei, at least. He'd protected the rest of his comrades, the ones that still lived, by eliminating the masked Quincy. That was what mattered right now.
He just had to remember that.
+ Break +
Rukia soared through the air, passing over entire blocks to see as far as possible. Battles still raged all over the place with countless fires creating billowing dark pillars that rose high into the sky. She landed occasionally, lending her strength to small skirmishes here and there. It was the least she could do after being absent for so long.
She couldn't dedicate any more time than this. She could feel the fight between Renji and the masked Quincy growing more intense. She was confident that Renji could win, but why take chances? If another Quincy showed up to aid their comrade, then he'd be at a disadvantage. Just like her brother had been.
She touched down beside a group of harried Shinigami and dashed past them, cutting down a line of Quincy soldiers and making the battle more even. Then she kept going, taking to the skies again.
It was hard not to worry. She'd believed in Byakuya's strength, had trusted that he could overcome any foe, and look what happened. It wasn't a matter of trust anymore. It was simple logic. Their odds of victory, of survival, were greatest when they fought together.
But that applied to every Shinigami, not just the people she was close to.
Sounds of battle blew past her on the wind. She listened carefully, picking out cries of anguish and frustration and making stops where she felt she was most needed. In and out, without slowing down. She left some pockets of conflict with grateful cheers trailing behind, others with the sounds of battles renewed.
She wanted to hurry and meet with Renji, but she couldn't just abandon their forces. She stopped, landing on a building which had become the backdrop for a fairly large skirmish. Shinigami and Quincy forces mixed, fighting in messy pockets. Any semblance of order and discipline was absent. It was a tangle that would not be so easily ironed out.
The chaos of this battle was dangerous. With soldiers on both sides shouting and lashing out wildly, she would have to pick her targets carefully, lest she accidentally get stabbed in the back. Rukia summoned her Zanpakuto, the hilt falling into her hand as if it had never left her grip, and prepared to intervene.
The sound of someone humming reached her ears and she froze. It was quiet, but still it somehow overpowered the frenzy below. The tune sent a chill down her spine. She looked around for its source, but there didn't seem to be anyone but the soldiers fighting. The voice, like the sound of dried leaves being crushed under foot, drew back, forcing Rukia to focus to pinpoint its location. Instead of the humming, though, she got an earful of battle cries and shouts.
But wait . . . something wasn't right. This wasn't the sound of a battle. Those weren't battle cries at all. The soldiers weren't shouting as they fought.
They were screaming.
Shinigami and Quincy alike struck their own down as surely as they struck each other. This was far beyond a lack of discipline. It was madness.
Terror gripped this battlefield.
Rukia searched the grounds for any sign of calm or structure, but it was nothing but horror from corner to corner. Surely there must be someone with some wits left. Someone she could ask what was going on here.
Her eyes passed over someone, or something, that made her skin feel clammy. She tried to focus on them, but her gaze kept slipping away. It was almost like her body was trying to avoid looking at them. Forcing down the panic that gripped her heart whenever she got close, she fixed her eyes on the figure standing unnaturally still in the middle of the battlefield.
Two endlessly dark pools sat on a too pale face partially covered by a mask. She knew that face. It made her want to scream. That was one of the men who killed her brother. He stared up at her like a statue, making her blood run cold.
Rukia breathed in sharply. Her emotions were a mess all of a sudden, but she was well beyond the point where that would matter. She was sure of herself now more than ever. She let out all the air in her lungs at once, not once breaking eye contact.
The humming stopped and the Quincy narrowed his eyes. Was he smiling? Suddenly, all of the Quincies and Shinigami collapsed. The chaotic battlefield had transformed into a graveyard in an instant.
"You remind me of your brother." The sickly voice reached Rukia as if he were standing right beside her. "He was stoic too. He showed little reaction to my tricks. Until The Fear broke him, that is." He was trying to rile her up, but she wouldn't let it get to her. She'd grown a great deal in the time since the Quincies first invaded. Any enemy that tried using Byakuya's death against her was in for a big surprise.
She leapt down, landing just outside the field of bodies. She'd barely caught the name of this Quincy on their first encounter, but she'd never forget it. "Your name is Äs Nodt, isn't it? I assume you've come to me in order to finish what you started?" Keeping her voice steady was surprisingly easy.
The Quincy chuckled, a disgusting choking noise. "I am impressed. Fear has a tendency to muddle people's memories, and yet you remember my name. You are wrong about my intentions, however. I am not out to finish anything. I never had any business with you before now."
"Then why show yourself to me?"
"Because you are a threat, of course." Äs Nodt stepped forward but the movement felt unnatural. He appeared to glide across the ground and his long black hair did not sway at all. "Before, you were like most all of the Gotei Lieutenants; beneath our concern. But you have grown a great deal. You have become a threat to His Majesty's ambitions, so I must stop you. It is simply my responsibility as His retainer."
Rukia shivered. Simple responsibility? This field of bodies and that sickening glint in his eyes said differently. She released her Zanpakuto and the temperature dropped considerably. Holding the snow white blade up beside her face, she braced herself for an attack.
Äs Nodt's eyes smiled. It was cold enough now that she should have been able to see his breath, but looking at him she wasn't sure he even breathed. "Your brother fought valiantly for a time," Äs Nodt said as a cluster of floating spikes appeared above his head. "I hope you can last at least as long before The Fear destroys your mind." The spikes glowed blue-white and shot at Rukia.
She didn't sense any sort of Reiatsu from them, but that didn't mean much against a Quincy. She stepped aside, letting the mysterious weapons fly right by her. As hard as her body was trying to avoid it, she kept her gaze fixed on the Quincy. He managed to defeat Nii-sama. I can't get careless because of some nerves.
She raised her sword, preparing to attack, but an ominous feeling held her back. Something was behind her. Something that made her skin crawl. She moved slowly, circling around Äs Nodt so that she might see what was making her so squeamish. There, on the wall that she was just standing in front of, small black blemishes. They squirmed and writhed like there was something alive just below the surface.
Those spikes put them there, she was sure. Just what sort of power did this Quincy possess?
More spikes appeared above Äs Nodt's head and shot towards her. As before, she dodged, moving her body as little as possible. Until she understood the full extent of his abilities, she couldn't afford to tire herself. Still more spikes came at her. He was generating them in a steady stream.
One volley burst apart and approached in a wide spread. She couldn't easily dodge something like that, so she did the next thing. Tapping the end of her blade against the ground, Rukia erected a thick barrier of ice in front of her. Her ice didn't reach the same level as Captain Hitsugaya's even after the 0 Division's training, but she was confident in its sturdiness.
The spikes reached her wall and passed through the ice. Rukia threw herself to the ground but a spike still struck her. She clutched her arm, expecting to find a weapon protruding from the wound or a black mark like the ones on the wall.
But there was nothing. Grasping at the point where she knew the spike hit her, she couldn't find any evidence of the attack having landed. She didn't feel any pain and there was no blood. Her clothes weren't even torn. Did she imagine it?
She peeked around her ice wall, expecting another barrage of spikes. No such attack came. Äs Nodt stood still, eyes forward. He stared with those too dark eyes of his half closed. His shoulders jumped. It was an extremely slight movement, but with every other part of him being so still, it was hard not to notice.
He was laughing.
A sudden sense of revulsion made Rukia wretch. She barely managed to keep her footing. The Quincy laughed loudly enough that she could hear. It only made her feel worse. Were those spikes laced with poison?
No, that didn't sound right. This nausea wasn't a physical phenomena. She wasn't sick. An illusion, then? It seemed familiar, somehow. Where had she felt this before?
For an instant, she held her mentor in her arms as he lay dying by her sword. Then she was facing that same mentor, his image distorted, a mask worn by a monster. She was in a hospital bed, having just heard about her brother's passing. Her breathing became ragged and sweat dripped from her nose.
Those images . . . they were so vivid. So personal. She had felt this sensation before. Those visions were proof.
She was afraid. That's what it was.
Dragging her eyes back to the Quincy, she understood. He hadn't injected her with poison, but fear. That was, well, frightening, but only so far as she let it be. This power had a glaring weakness.
Rukia stepped out from behind her wall, standing out in the open. She planted her feet and firmly gripped her Zanpakuto with both hands to keep them from shaking. She forced herself to meet his disgusting amused gaze with a defiant glare. "You're trying to make me afraid, but that won't work."
Äs Nodt's laughter cut off. "It won't, huh? That brother of yours felt the same way. In a way, facing you feels like standing before him again. Except, you aren't nearly as intimidating."
"As long as I defeat you, that doesn't matter." Her voice came out solid and steady. He was trying to make her doubt. Comparing her to her brother and making her feel small. She knew how much she'd grown, though, so no amount of taunting would bring her down.
The Quincy hesitated. It was brief, but she saw him retreat ever so slightly. He was used to his power crippling his opponents. He counted on them being crushed by their fears. He had no way to fight her directly!
She took a cautious step forward. "What's wrong? I thought you weren't intimidated by me. Are you afraid to fight me directly?"
"There is no need. You have already been touched by my Fear. It has seeped into your very being and wrapped itself tightly around your mind. Your defeat is a foregone conclusion."
"We'll see about that." Rukia charged. She was afraid, so his ability was working as he said, but she wouldn't let that fear ruin her. She ran, beating back the fear with every step. More spikes flew at her. She tried to avoid them-even if they couldn't harm her physically, there was no telling how the Quincy's power would act if he hit her multiple times-but her movements were slower than before. She barely dodged, and not on purpose this time.
A spike struck her in the leg, then another. She grew stiff, suddenly very concerned about Äs Nodt's close combat abilities. Was he baiting her in? If his long range attacks couldn't damage her, then did that mean he relied on short range attacks to finish his opponents? She was making a mistake. She needed to pull back!
Rukia tightened her grip on her sword and pushed forward. So what if he could fight her up close? That was how many battles played out. This was nothing to worry about. She told herself that, but still her movements slowed. She was having trouble committing to her actions. She needed a plan.
Breathing out through clenched teeth, she pushed the surrounding temperature down. There would be little change even just a few inches off, but the air right up against her would be beyond frigid. More spikes came and struck her. Some made impact and vanished, adding to her uncertainty, but as the temperature dropped further and further, she noticed a change.
A spike made contact and froze in an instant. It fell away, completely neutralized.
Äs Nodt produced more of those terribly simple weapons, sending them at her with great precision, but now, most of them were deflected. He narrowed his eyes. "You can freeze Reishi constructs? That is inconvenient. It will do nothing to help you, however." He fired two spikes in quick succession. The first struck Rukia in the side. It froze in the air, unable to deliver its frightening payload. Then the other struck the first. The ice shattered and both spikes slammed into her side, making coin-sized holes in her body.
Rukia gasped and her vision swam. She pressed down on the two small holes and froze them to stop the bleeding. Those spikes had hurt her. That meant her assumptions were wrong. There were spikes that could damage her body, and spikes that couldn't. Could he choose which he shot out? Was there some difference between them that she could see or sense? Were the effects different?
Too many questions coated the surface of her mind. Her pulse quickened and her breathing became faster, more shallow. She was panicking. Panicking on the battlefield was tantamount to exposing yourself to the enemy's blade. Her brother had drilled that into her head! How could she make such a stupid mistake?
"The interesting thing about power," Äs Nodt said, "is that those who possess it tend to disregard fear. They forget that it was their fear that drove them to become powerful in the first place. It was true for your brother, and it is true for you. You have forgotten how crippling fear can be. How it creeps its way into your heart and paralyzes you."
Rukia squeezed her Zanpakuto as hard as she could, but the shaking wouldn't stop.
"Your hard earned power cannot protect you, for fear comes from within. It is your doubts, your insecurities. You cannot stop it by simply wishing it away. All living things fear. To live is to fear. Do you understand, Shinigami? My power is unstoppable."
Rukia's teeth chattered, almost making it impossible to speak, but she managed, "Y-you're right. Fear is . . . a terrible thing." He was right. She couldn't beat him like this! "I am afraid. I am alive, so I am fearful. But what if . . . I wasn't alive?" She couldn't win as long as she lived. She had to die if she hoped to ever claim victory. She didn't want to die!
And yet, she had to.
Breathing out, forcing the air to escape at a steady rate, Rukia focused. Her mind cut through the thoughts trying to smother her and reached out to her Zanpakuto. And Sode no Shirayuki responded.
Rukia's muscles grew stiff, and for a moment she started shivering. The impulse quickly passed as her body temperature dropped further and further. Her vision blurred and breathing became difficult. Her blood felt thick in her veins.
Out of the three that underwent the 0 Division's training, Rukia required the least amount of reconstruction. Unlike Renji, the nature of her power was entirely unchanged. The only real benefit she received was increased power. And with that power came awareness.
Although her Zanpakuto's power had not changed, her perception of its uses had.
Was she swaying? She couldn't tell anymore. The world was lost to her as her eyes, ears, and nose stopped working. The only thing she could feel was the beating of her heart. The interval between beats grew wider until the time between seemed an eternity.
She didn't want to die!
Rukia's heart stopped. She was dead, and in that instant, everything vanished. Her consciousness, her memories, her experiences . . . it all simply ended. As did her fear.
Life flooded through her veins as her heart worked overtime to warm her back up. Her senses returned immediately, like a switch was flipped. She blinked, her eyes focusing on the wide-eyed Quincy just as her muscles loosened. She exploded into motion, charging with her blade poised to strike. She swung, but just barely missed.
Äs Nodt gasped, a noise as satisfying to hear as it was disgusting. A cluster of spikes appeared around him and pierced Rukia all over. They were the non-damaging type, fortunately, but with so many simultaneous hits her fear returned. She'd failed. That was the one opportunity she'd have. He'd be wary now, and wouldn't give her the same opening. It was over . . .
Rukia's body temperature dropped below zero in an instant, effectively killing her body. But only for that instant. She couldn't let the fear make her hesitate. Äs Nodt could very well be ready for anything now, but if she could keep him on the retreat, then she could overwhelm him.
She pushed her power further, well beyond what she'd ever achieved before. Her body hadn't warmed up yet, yet she moved, lunging at Äs Nodt with a frozen body. He dodged, but she managed to sheer off a few strands of hair. When he countered with damaging spikes, she dropped her body temperature again, negating the fear.
Her wounds froze over. Each step she took shook the ground as moisture in the stones and dirt flash froze. She could only move in short bursts in this state, the frigidity of her form making her fragile. The cold of Sode no Shirayuki was a double-edged sword in many cases, however, and as the temperature plummeted the Quincy's movements slowed.
Once more she froze and charged. Äs Nodt tried to avoid her, but he was too slow this time. The tip of Rukia's Zanpakuto cut into the Quincy's chest and she wasted no time unleashing the full extent of her Shikai's power.
Äs Nodt's body frosted over and he stopped moving. His eyes, those terrifying black pools, were stuck open, wide with rage. Foggy, unseeing gems set in a sickly face. Even in death, he seemed to fixate on Rukia as she turned away.
Well, he could glare all he liked. It wouldn't change the fact that he was defeated. Rukia let out a shaky breath as her body temperature rose. It was a slow process; if she let herself defrost too quickly, she could tear her skin and damage her organs. The new depths of her power were certainly useful, but the danger to herself was going to be problematic.
She shivered. Her Zanpakuto possessed great power-enough to defeat an enemy her brother couldn't defeat even with Bankai-but when she thought about it, Äs Nodt was the ideal opponent for her. He wasn't terribly fast, and his combat abilities seemed to focus entirely on instilling fear rather than dealing damage directly.
But what if things had gone differently? If Äs Nodt had been the type to rush down his opponent and overwhelm them with brute force, she would have been the one to fall. Her power wouldn't have been able to stop someone like that. She would have failed. Everything would have been lost.
And it would have been all her fault.
Rukia tensed, ignoring the sharp pain of her knuckles tearing. Something was very, very wrong. She was afraid. Terrified, even. She'd won the battle, so she should have been confident and triumphant. Instead, she pondered failure and defeat.
Something cracked behind her. She could imagine tiny fissures opening up all over Äs Nodt's body. He wasn't dead. His power was still affecting her!
She wanted to turn and strike before he could thaw completely, but she couldn't. Her feet were rooted to the ground and her neck refused to face the source of her terror. Her body was betraying her. Her only hope was to stop her heart as she'd done before. It was risky at this point, but she had no other choice.
The temperature dropped and Rukia spun. She took one step towards the Quincy before fear gripped her heart. The frost coating Äs Nodt's body chipped away, pulling strips of skin along with it. Patches of his uniform fell away and strands of hair broke like razor-thin icicles. He shivered and growled. His eyes became clear, but instead of focusing on Rukia, they rolled back, revealing vast fields of white broken by bright red veins.
Rukia bit her lip and squeezed the hilt of her sword tight. She needed to force herself to continue watching this horrifying display. She couldn't let herself fall prey to the fear. Her teeth started to chatter when a guttural noise rose from the Quincy.
His agonized voice grew louder and louder until it was a scream. His mask fell away, revealing a too large mouth rimmed by thin, scabbed lips.
Rukia felt a tugging, like she was being drawn towards that terrible thing. Was this an effect of his power, making her lose her wits? His Spiritual Pressure surged, battering her as she was pulled in. This wasn't an effect of the fear at all. He was pulling power from the world around him.
Whatever he was planning, it was going to be big. Rukia managed to take a step forward, tears hot in her eyes. She had to finish him off before he could unleash whatever he was powering up for.
Another step. She blinked away the tears. Äs Nodt's voice was becoming a rasping gurgle, as if the force of his cry was tearing his throat open. His jaw worked, forming the garbled noise into what sounded like a word. "Tartarforas!" Blood started seeping from his mouth. The ground shook, knocking Rukia off her feet.
A glowing white ring appeared over his head, like a barbed halo. His scream rising in one last crescendo, Äs Nodt was enveloped in a terrible pillar of blue-white light. Rukia shielded her eyes, but it did little to stop the churning in her stomach.
Suddenly, the air felt colder. The temperature hadn't dropped, as far as Rukia could tell, but warmth evaporated. Everything was still. Every breath she took rang in her ears. She swore she could hear the frantic beating of her heart all around her. She no longer felt the Quincy's power growing. Instead, she felt dread. It oozed between her fingers and matted her hair. Whatever Äs Nodt had done-whatever he'd become-was horrible. She didn't want to look. The thought made her want to scream.
But she had to. She had to face this enemy.
Rukia grit her teeth and lowered her hand, quickly taking hold of her Zanpakuto before she could start trembling. She glared at the Quincy as if to beat him down with her resolve alone. But he wasn't there. Äs Nodt, the Quincy, was a man. No matter how eerie he looked and sounded, and no matter how ruthlessly he wielded fear, he was still human being. The thing that loomed over where he once stood was anything but.
It towered over the buildings in the area, back arched to regard the grounds at its feet. Its hair fell back across its back like a black veil, consuming light. Its skin was a stark contrast; bright white and stretched tightly over what little muscle and sinew the thing had, bones showing through. The lower half of its torso billowed out, seamlessly transitioning from skin to clothing. Assuming that cloak-like hem wasn't still its skin. There were undulating black masses extending from its shoulders that vaguely resembled arms. Its face-oh, its face-was a mask of agony. The skin around its skull was pulled so tight that it tore apart, exposing its jagged, uneven teeth. Its eyes were ripped open, staring endlessly from within milky white sockets. Blood, gushing from its eyes and mouth, left jarring red smears on its otherwise monotone visage.
Resolve melted away like ice over an open fire. The moment Rukia's eyes focused on that thing she became a quivering mess. Tears streamed down her cheeks from eyes opened so wide they were on the verge of popping out. She tried to scream, but terror stole her voice. She almost dropped her sword as strength left her arms. She could barely support herself on weak, shaking legs. Thoughts of victory and perseverance shattered against unbridled horror.
She felt the fear encroaching more clearly than before. More aggressively. If she didn't act, it would break her mind. Throwing caution out the window, she dropped her temperature and stopped her heart.
The fear persisted. No, it was more intense. She gasped and stumbled, tearing muscles in her throat and legs. Why did she think that would work?! She knew the risks, it was stupid before and it was even more stupid now! She . . .
She focused on raising her temperature, pushing out all of the thoughts carrying the taint of Äs Nodt's fear. Still, she couldn't escape the feeling that she was going to die. It was inevitable. She'd lost. But she was still a Lieutenant of the Gotei 13, and more importantly, a daughter of the Kuchiki clan. Even in the face of death, she had to be strong. Rukia's eyes drifted up to the monster in front of her, and her determination wavered.
It was leaning down to her, arching its back more and more to draw close. Its face was larger than she was. Its jaws opened, unleashing a black mist, and it spoke, "Struggle all you like. You can no longer escape The Fear, even in death." Its voice was surprisingly quiet, shilling so, and raspy. Hearing it made Rukia's eyes itch. She was half tempted to claw them out.
Her temperature rose to a point where she could safely move, so she turned on the spot and tried to run away. She only made it a few steps before she noticed how her surroundings had changed.
The sky was black, like the dead of night, but instead of stars twinkling in the darkness, there were eyes. A countless number of eyes. And they were all focused on her. She was engulfed in such sheer panic that it felt like her brain was on fire.
"You may run, but in this form, The Fear is transcendent. Simply witnessing my sphere of influence infects your mind."
He was affecting her through sight alone?! How did she counter that? Pushed to the brink, Rukia did the first thing that came to mind.
She closed her eyes.
It was a fight-or-flight response, impulsive, but thinking about it, it was a good solution. If he was making her fearful through her eyes, then shutting them should suppress the flow of his power. Or so she thought. It continued.
"Foolish. You have already borne witness to Tartarforas. Gouge out your eyes. Puncture your eardrums. Cut out your tongue. Tear off your nose. Burn your skin away. Nothing you do now will stop The Fear."
Rukia squeezed her eyes shut tighter, but her heart continued to beat faster, and her skin continued to crawl. The monster's horrible face appeared in her private darkness. Those horrible eyes joined it. They watched her, growing closer and closer until she couldn't take it anymore. She opened her eyes, shrieking.
She was standing in a sterile white hallway. The walls close and lined with doors marked with blank placards. Dim strips of light buzzed overhead, casting the hall in a queasy glow. There were gurneys and wheelchairs abandoned intermittently along its length. It all came together in one disquieting image. "A . . . hospital? What . . ." Slowly turning her head revealed a nearly identical path behind her. Wherever, whatever, this was, she was trapped.
Mounting fear kept her rooted. She needed to escape this place, but what awaited her at the end of this hallway? Her mind brought forth images of horrible, grotesque creatures and the manner in which they might kill her. Nausea threw her off balance. She stumbled against the wall, steadying herself, but when she felt its texture, she pulled away. Everything here was wrong. The air itself felt like it was trying to suffocate her.
Desperate, she tried stopping her heart one last time. Nothing changed. The sterile hallway didn't even flicker. This was a powerful illusion . . . assuming it was one.
Footsteps echoed down the corridor. Rukia swung around, raising her sword in shaky hands, though she wasn't sure which direction the sound was coming from. Someone was coming. She started running. She might have been running into the approaching threat, but she was too afraid to care. Dying after running into an enemy or dying when the enemy found her, there was no difference. She just needed to move. It might help her clear her head.
It didn't. The hall stretched on forever. There were no corners or curves, just locked doors and the occasional hospital vehicle. She ran as fast as she could. The footsteps, marching to a relaxed, steady beat, sounded like they were getting closer anyways.
There's nothing more we can do . . .
She heard a voice. It was frighteningly close, but she didn't see anyone in front of her, and she sure as hell wasn't going to look back.
You will die . . . Best to accept it . . .
That wasn't Äs Nodt's voice. It was deeper and didn't feel as if it came from a sludge coated tongue. Yet somehow, it was even more disturbing. There was a finality to it. An authority that dashed any hopes for survival.
No fault of your own . . . It was fate . . . Make peace . . .
Rukia ran faster. Her lungs burned and sweat drenched her clothes. The voice continued to offer comforting words, encouraging her to give up and accept her death. She almost listened. She was exhausted and terrified and even her newly forged power couldn't save her. Best to just lay down and die. It would be so much easier.
But then she saw a door in the distance. It wasn't along the walls that seemed to be closing in around her. Instead it was before her, standing at the end of the hallway. She felt a spike of panic as she realized that she had nowhere else to run. She pushed through, focusing on that oddity in the distance.
The differences with this door were immediately apparent. The placard was marked, though she could not read what it said, and there was a small window set in the frame. There was light shining through. The other doors discouraged her from approaching, giving off the impression that if she stopped to try the knobs, she would find them locked, and whatever it was that was chasing her would catch up. This door, this potential dead end, drew her in.
She slammed into the white, unnatural feeling wood and frantically grasped at the knob. It clicked when she turned it and she threw her entire weight into pushing it open.
Rukia stumbled, falling to the floor in a small room. There was medical equipment standing beside a bed, draped in white. A single chair sat in the corner, and beyond that, a window. It took up almost the entire wall, and there didn't seem to be anything but a glowing white void outside. Still, the window was open, and a faint warm breeze rustled the curtains hanging on either side. It was all so . . . comfortable. It was like the space was designed to feel safe.
And yet it filled her with disgust. This wasn't a safe place at all. It was a tomb, lined with cushions to discourage the dead from holding on to life. That impression pulsed in her brain like the worst sort of headache. It almost drowned out the sound of the footsteps drawing closer.
The door closed behind her and soon after the footsteps approached. They stopped as they reached the end of the hall. A shadow darkened the fogged glass of the little window. Rukia held her breath.
Then the visions started.
Rukia held the cold corpse of her mentor. She'd dealt the final blow. He was being controlled by a Hollow. She had to do it to save him. He stared up at her, eyes cloudy, and spoke. You could have saved me. If only you'd been stronger.
She held her Zanpakuto pressed against the chest of a young man in the living world. There was a Hollow bearing down on them. She wasn't strong enough to defeat it. Her only option was to rely on this random civilian, a child no less. He looked down at her, determined. He didn't speak, but she heard his thoughts. If you can't protect them, then I will.
She sat in a cell, alone. Her own actions had brought her here. I wasn't strong enough to resist. I should have refused to return, but I didn't. I left him behind after saddling him with such a heavy burden. I'm a coward, escaping responsibility by dying.
She was standing next to Renji. Her brother stood in front of them, sword raised, warding off a pair of monsters. Those beasts, clad in white, were omens of death. Strength fled. Renji vanished, leaving her alone to watch her brother become a meal for the Quincies. Byakuya spoke back to her, eyes toward the threat. You could have fought by my side. You could have died along with me. You could have escaped the fear. But you were too weak, so this is your fate.
She screamed, unable to dispel the horrible guilt crushing her. The doorknob turned, and the door slowly opened. As her eyes fell on the shadowed figure standing in the hall, she was overcome by another vision.
Rukia fell to the floor, pain radiating from where the practice sword had struck her shoulder. She scrambled to stand and take the stance she'd been learning, but the practice sword struck her leg. She clutched her leg and whimpered. She'd failed again.
Her brother pointed the wooden blade at her and commanded her to stand. She started pushing herself up when she was struck again. She collapsed, crying out. Byakuya ordered her to stand. She hesitated. He wanted her to stand up, but when she tried, he was just going to knock her down again. Her arm and leg pulsed. She didn't want any more lumps.
"You are afraid I will hit you again," he said, sounding disappointed. "Are you going to let a little pain stop you from fighting? I don't recall allowing you to quit." He was relentless. Every word made her feel smaller and smaller.
He was right. She was pathetic. She wasn't cut out to be a fighter. All of his efforts in training her were wasted. All because she was too weak. Fear ruled her. That was always how it was. Whether it was driving her to action instead of finding a better solution or pushing her to take the easy way out, her fears were at the core of her decisions.
She hadn't changed in all these years. It would be easier if he just killed her right then and there. Surely there was someone more fit to bear the name Kuchiki.
A hand gripping her shoulder made her jump. She looked up, teary eyed, and faced her brother. His gentle expression shocked her. "It is alright to fear what brings you pain. It is only natural. If you let it control you, then you are doomed to experience the very pain you fear. To be strong is to face that fear, to rage against it. Nobody becomes strong at the drop of a hat. You must overcome that which holds you down. Stand. Endure the pain you fear so much, and face me. I know you can do it." He smiled at her. A gesture filled with so much kindness and care that her tears flowed freely.
As if a damn had burst, memories flooded her mind. Memories of her comrades. Memories of her friends. Most abundantly, memories of her brother. All of the love and support she had received. All the battles she'd fought alongside those she cared about. Times when she had been the protector or the teacher or the stabilizer.
The mountain of fear and doubt breaking her was washed away by the swift, powerful current of those memories.
She was back in the white room. The shadowy figure of her pursuer knelt in front of her. "Nii-sama?" She hoped against reason.
But no, this was not her brother after all. Kicking and screaming will do nothing to extend your life. Lie down. Allow yourself a peaceful death. The same voice that harried her before came from the figure. Still, it told her to accept her fate.
Rukia closed her ears to those words. She was afraid, nauseatingly so, but that was all. So what if she hurt? So what if she had no confidence? So what if every fiber of her being wanted to run and hide? She couldn't give up until she'd exhausted every option. And even then, she would scratch and bite until she was put down for good. That was the kind of warrior her brother taught her to be.
She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, seeking comfort and shelter in her bond with her Zanpakuto. Shikai had failed her. Äs Nodt's power was simply more powerful. Perhaps it was because this ability was so new, but she'd forgotten it in her panic. She was still panicking, admittedly, but now she was more focused.
She would face the fear. Rage against it.
"Don't tell me you've given up? Things were just starting to get good." That was Äs Nodt's voice. It grated on her ears, causing her terror to surge. "Your brother never stopped fighting, you know? He fought tooth and claw until I ripped his guts out. I bet he'd be disappointed if he saw you standing there, waiting to die."
Rukia opened her eyes. "You don't know him as well as you think you do. You don't know me, either." She turned away from the shadowy figure and moved to the window. That warm breeze made her itch.
Äs Nodt appeared in that white void, a towering monster looming over the portal into the sterile deathtrap. His bloody face contorted, causing the skin to split further. "I don't need to know you. You only need to know fear. It is human nature that gives me power over you! Behold!" He dug his undulating fingers into his chest and pulled. A fountain of blood spilled out from his emaciated body and he transformed.
A new monster emerged from the hole, one that was somehow even more grotesque. It's pale emaciated body was covered in growths and warts that bubbled and spewed bile. Its arms bent too many times and in nauseating directions. Instead of legs, it stood on a writhing mass of fleshy tentacles. A frightfully thin neck led to a head shaped like a balloon. A narrow chin gave way to a bulbous crown covered in greasy black hair. Its mouth hung open, showing rows of uneven, rotting teeth. Its eyes bulged, moving erratically, independently of one another, and never resting on anything for long.
Just looking at it made Rukia want to vomit. Strange how that disgust was intense enough to overcome even her fear.
She held her Zanpakuto in front of her, facing the monster. She kept her breathing steady even as her heart tried to beat out of her chest. If she didn't act quickly, it would probably explode. "I can do this . . . Bankai!"
Power unlike anything Rukia had felt filled her body. A fire had been lit inside of her. In opposition to that feeling, she felt the temperature drop at a dizzying pace. It blew past zero, easily breaching the natural order.
The change to her surroundings was catastrophic. The hospital and accompanying white void fell away, returning her to the battlefield. As far as she could see, everything had frozen. It went well beyond a simple layer of frost this time, though. She could see it. Down to the atoms themselves, everything was truly frozen. Absolute zero.
Heat death.
Her body crystallized as the atomic building blocks that comprised her being stood perfectly still, bereft of energy.
Everything was white, but now, it was her domain. And Äs Nodt was not welcome here. His monstrous form stood before her, turned to ice in the most literal sense. It might have been more accurate to describe it as a lump of matter in the shape of the Quincy. Unlike before, she could be sure he was dead. Her fears evaporated.
She had won.
This power was far more destructive than she predicted, though. She couldn't even breathe a sigh of relief in this state. Her body was the tail of a Batavian tear; one wrong move, one errant breath, and she would shatter. What would happen to her allies if she used Bankai in their vicinity?
She shuddered at the thought and her hand cracked. Best not to do that either, I guess.
The towering statue that used to be Äs Nodt fell apart, crushing the frozen corpses of Shinigami and Quincy alike, leaving Rukia truly alone in this frozen wasteland. Alone and unable to move.
At least she had plenty of time to plan her next move. That, and consider her gratitude.
Thank you, Nii-sama. I wouldn't have been able to do it without you. Rest well.
She couldn't cry in this state, so she held those feelings in. Before she resumed her search for Renji, she would allow herself a moment to cry all of the tears she'd accumulate in the process of warming up.
And for once, they wouldn't be tears of frustration or fear or pain.
They would be tears of gratitude and pride.
+ Break +
Yhwach sat back in his chair, grumbling at its stiffness. It wasn't as bad as the throne housed in the Wandenreich's main hall, but hardly reclined at all. In the years since he received this seat, it had soured his mood with its mediocrity numerous times. Today, though . . . nothing could bring him down. If the Shinigami kicked down his door right then declaring total victory, he would still have reason to smile.
He had finally fully recovered from his fight with Yamamoto. He was in perfect condition. Better, even. The power churning inside of him made his hair stand on end as it threatened to break free. It was glorious.
Footsteps echoed down the grand hall leading to Yhwach's private quarters. Jugo stormed through the doors moments later, his mask of serenity severely fractured. It was rare to see him this out of sorts. He approached Yhwach's desk and saluted. "Your Majesty, I have a report on the progress of the battle."
Yhwach waved his hand.
Jugo cleared his throat and began reciting a list of familiar names. Names that belonged to members of their elite force.
"This is indeed grave news." So many Sternritter dead. Their losses during the initial invasion were devastating to begin with, and now they'd lost even more. It made his heart ache, but even so, not all was lost. "They will be remembered for their contributions towards the birth of our new world."
"Indeed. However, their deaths are the least of our worries." Yhwach cocked an eyebrow at that. What could be worse than deaths among their elite? "It appears that our worst fears have come to pass. Our incursion into the Seireitei drew the attention of the 0 Division. In the time it took us to recover from transferring the Wandenreich here, they have been bolstering the Shinigami forces. As a result, our general forces have lost the advantage granted by my power."
Yhwach ran his fingers through his moustaches. They were growing more wildly than he liked. "This war has strayed from the ideal path, then. It is unfortunate, but there is no need to fret. Our victory is all but assured, now."
"Your Majesty?" Jugo cocked an eyebrow, clearly intrigued, but before he could ask the question at the tip of his tongue, the door swung open again. This time, Lille Barro, Askin Nakk le Varr, Gerard Valkyrie, Nianzol Weizol, and Gremmy Thoumeaux stepped in. Seeing the Schutzstaffel, the Wandenreich's greatest weapons gather like this, Jugo's eyes glinted with a ravenous light. "It is ready, then?"
Yhwach smiled, standing. "Pernida is ready." The air practically crackled with excitement. The end was coming. The day each of these men had been waiting for was upon them. Yhwach couldn't help feeling a little giddy himself. "Only one piece remains. I trust you've deduced the location of Ukitake, Jugo?"
"I've narrowed it down. We can move out as soon as you are ready, my Lord." Jugo nudged the sword at his hip, exposing the blade's immaculate polish to the light. The usually even tempered Jugram Haschwalth was champing at the bit.
"Then let us be off. We set out from the last bastion of hope into a twisted world, and we will not stop until we reach our goal. A new world! One untainted by the corruption of the Balancers!"
The gathered elites cheered, even Nakk le Varr.
Finally.
After a thousand years, justice would be done.