The fiery blue-white geyser erupted just outside of the 3rd Division's barracks. It wasn't the only one, obviously. Just looking around made that clear. 6th seat Katakura Asuka was willing to bet that the whole of the Seireitei was in motion now. At least, he hoped it was.
The Captains never did give them a clear explanation of what the Gotei 13 was preparing for, but judging by the intense uneasiness and pressure radiating from that big glowing pillar, this was probably it. Katakura stood at the ready with the other 3rd Division officers, but he shot Lieutenant Kira more than a few bitter glances.
That man definitely knew what was going on. All of the Lieutenants probably did, now that he thought about it. As for the seated officers . . . 3rd seat Togakushi would be in the know. He was too calm not to be. 5th seat Gori, though? Not likely. The way he was rolling his shoulders and shifting his weight gave away his nervousness. That hairy monkey didn't have a composed bone in his body.
Katakura himself felt those nerves as well, but at least he could behave like a proper officer. The only reason Gori had that 5th seat was because he had seniority. Honestly, of the four of them, only Togakushi had any right to the position he held. He was loyal and talented, not to mention charismatic. And when Kira's allegiances were in question, Togakushi didn't give him an inch. Shooting another look at Kira as he looked up at that blue pillar with a terribly unreliable expression, Katakura was sure that Togakushi should have been in that position.
"Reishi Investigation Team! What are we looking at?" Kira turned his back on the fiery geyser to consult with members of the 3rd Division. Whatever this threat was, the Reishi Investigation Team would surely reveal its true nature in no time. At least there was some benefit to this thing appearing right outside the barracks.
"We're almost done analyzing, Lieutenant. We do know that it is something we've detected before. All we need now is a match." The investigator buried his face in the device hanging from his shoulders, twisting knobs and dials.
Kira nodded and returned his attention to the problem at hand, "Good. Let us know what we're dealing with as soon as you know. In the meantime, what do you think, Rikū? I doubt these things have anything to do with Arrancar." Kira said, obviously pretending not to know.
"I agree. I can't place it myself, but this is giving me an ominous sense of déjà vu." 3rd seat Togakushi said, positioning himself beside Kira. Katakura breathed a sigh of relief. At least there was one reliable officer standing at the front.
Kira Izuru was certainly strong, however he wasn't strong enough. His loyalty was admirable, but he wasn't particularly talented in combat or leadership, and his charisma was nothing compared to Togakushi's. At this point, the only reason he still held such a high position was because Captain Ōtoribashi took a liking to him for some reason. It was infuriating that someone so gloomy could get by on some odd aesthetic appeal while others were held back by a lack of seniority!
"Everybody stand ready!" Kira shifted his stance, his eyes narrowing on the pillar. What was he on about? They were all already ready. Leave it to Lieutenant Kira to hand out some awfully redundant orders to an . . .
A shadowy figure appeared within the blue-white pillar. In a wave starting with 3rd seat Togakushi the members of Division 3 prepared for a fight.
Katakura gritted his teeth. How could someone like Kira have sensed the presence of an enemy before Togakushi, or himself? No, that wasn't the right way to think about it. Katakura was just distracted by Kira's unworthiness. And thinking on it further, Kira was about a step closer to the pillar to Togakushi, so it was probably a proximity thing. And even if it weren't, Togakushi wasn't the type to supersede the authority of someone higher than him.
The uneasy feeling coming off the of the pillar in waves intensified as the shadow grew, the enemy within approaching. Just then, a shout came from behind, "We've got a match! Lieutenant, it's a Quincy!"
What? A Quincy? That was plain ridiculous. This was nothing like any Quincy technique Katakura had ever heard of. And judging by the surprise on Kira's face, he felt the same. Perhaps he really hadn't known what they were preparing for.
So much for being close to the Captain.
The figure in the pillar approached at an almost casual pace, stepping through the blue-white fire as if he were stepping out of a light drizzle. The members of the 3rd Division held their collective breath, Katakura included. Something was off about this. Without a doubt, that was a Quincy. If the all-white attire didn't give it away, the five-pointed cross certainly did. But this feeling, a powerful spiritual pressure that mirrored a Captain's, just wasn't right. Quincy weren't supposed to give off spiritual pressure like Shinigami did.
The Quincy looked around at the gathered Shinigami, his face obscured by a stark white cowl. His voice boomed, rough and filled to the brim with confidence, "Which one of you is the Captain?"
"He isn't present at the moment, so you'll have to do with us." Kira stepped forward without a moment's hesitation and spoke. Putting on airs like that wasn't going to defeat the obvious enemy in front of them, but Katakura was just a little thankful that he did it. "I am 3rd Division Lieutenant Kira Izuru."
"Aw man, really?" The Quincy's shoulders drooped. Was he really that disappointed? Katakura certainly wouldn't blame him if he was. "No Lieutenant's going to get me any glory. Could you go get the Captain for me then?"
"I'm afraid I must refuse. I couldn't possibly waste the Captain's time for someone like you." Even Katakura felt pride swelling up inside him with those words. Kira could be a real downer, but he was performing well.
The Quincy breathed a sigh and shook his head. "Fine. I guess you guys'll do for a warm-up at least."
"We'll see who's the warm-up soon enough. Raise Your Head, Wabisuke!" Lieutenant Kira's Zanpakuto shifted to its Shikai form, with that odd square-ish shape looking far more reliable than it usually did. He raised his blade to the Quincy. "I'll have you on your knees for trespassing on these premises. Be ready to repent, Quincy."
Katakura felt a jolt through his whole body. Perhaps he'd been too hard on Lieutenant Kira. When it came down to it, he really could act like a proper leader. Maybe, just maybe, he could be someone to look to for inspiration. Katakura steadied the grip on his sword, deciding to have a chat with Captain Ōtoribashi about the Lieutenant's appeal.
A wave of motivation swept through the members of the 3rd Division as they all silently rallied behind Lieutenant Kira. Their boosted confidence didn't last long, however, as the Quincy doubled over laughing. "What the heck is that? I thought you Shinigami used swords! You know, sharp, good for cutting? How are you supposed to cut anything like that?" The white-clad bastard had the nerve to slap his knee. Katakura wasn't alone in bristling at that. How dare this man make fun of their Lieutenant? "Tell you what," he continued, composing himself, "if you're going to come at me with a glorified club, I'll take a handicap." The Quincy held up a hand, "One finger. That's all I'll use."
"Fine by me. I have no qualms about killing a fool who refuses to defend himself." Lieutenant Kira shifted his stance. Surely he'd close the distance between them with Shunpo to catch the Quincy off guard. A solid strategy. And if his razor-sharp focus was any indication, it would work out just fine.
"Hold on just a moment there, Mr. Lieutenant. I think you've misunderstood me." The Quincy wagged his finger in an infuriatingly mocking gesture. "I'm not taking a handicap to make things easier on you. I'm saying that that all I'll need is one finger. Got it?"
"Whatever you say. Prepare yourself!" Lieutenant Kira leapt forward faster than Katakura could track! He raised-
"Burner Finger 1." A thick pillar of flame fired out of the Quincy's outstretched finger. It bore right through Lieutenant Kira, taking an arm and most of his torso with it. The Lieutenant's body hit the floor without so much as a gasp.
The first to react was 3rd seat Togakushi. He leapt forward, his sword already in Shikai form. Katakura was right behind him alongside Gori. It must have been a fluke or a trick. No way Lieutenant Kira would go down just like that. Releasing their Zanpakuto, the 5th and 6th seats charged with a vengeful fury.
Katakura's vision was filled with white as the Quincy appeared in front of him and Gori. "Now that was disappointing. I'm not going to get much of a warm-up, am I?" For the first time, Katakura could see the Quincy's face clearly. He looked deadly serious except for his eyes.
The last things 6th seat Katakura Asuka saw before his head was driven into the ground were the Quincy's white gloves and his laughing eyes.
+ Break +
Wide open, flat, and surrounded on all sides by tall buildings, the courtyard outside the 8th Division's barracks was typically used as a training ground. Painted lines on the ground demarcated areas where rows of dummies stood, where racks for practice weapons were placed, and where spaces were left for drills.
Those spaces had shown their worth in the last few days.
Captain Kyōraku Shunsui scanned the courtyard from beneath his wide-brimmed hat. Just as old man Yama said, an invasion was underway. Now the training grounds were a staging area where scouts would deliver information and orders could be sent out. It just didn't seem right. When was the last time the Soul Society had been a battleground like this?
The closest they'd come in the last millennium would have been when Kurosaki Ichigo and his friends stormed the place a few years back. It was almost funny how frantic things had been then for such a small incident. Granted, that little disturbance revealed a much greater threat, so maybe it was similar after all.
From atop one of the surrounding buildings a scout waved his arms in a specific sequence. That would mean the pillars were gone, then. Another signal from further along the rooftops confirmed. Shunsui sighed. It wasn't exactly useful information at this point. They'd already received reports that powerful Quincies were emerging from those pillars, but that was a small problem in the grand scheme of things.
While Quincies with captain-level power appearing all over the Seireitei was troublesome, it was only a fragment of the enemy's total forces. The real threat came from the enormous fortress that had appeared just before the blue-white pillars. According to reports, an army had streamed out in every direction as soon as the building appeared, and it was a safe bet that most of their casualties would come from that force, rather than the more powerful individuals.
It was a hassle being forced to sit around and chew on all of this information. The 8th Division wasn't cut out for this kind of intel management.
"Captain, we've received new reports on the Quincies that emerged from the pillars." Lieutenant Ise Nanao said from behind Shunsui. Looking back at her serious face as she rifled through stacks of papers, he couldn't help but think that maybe it was just him that wasn't cut out for this kind of work. "The individuals that came from the pillars appear to be targeting Captains while the general enemy soldiers engage our main force."
Shunsui scratched his chin, "I suppose that means we should be expecting company then. Nanao-chan, have everybody clear out of here and head to the 4th Division barracks."
"Don't be ridiculous, Captain." Nanao challenged him. As expected of his adorable Lieutenant; she understood his intentions immediately. "It is our duty as members of the 8th Division to fight alongside you. Besides, the 4th Division isn't in as central a location as our barracks. Our ability to convey information will be hampered by a move like that."
"Right on both counts, Nanao-chan. However, our own reports show the strain the scattered fighting is having on our forces. The spread of information might slow down, but we can more easily get assistance to the injured and struggling if we report directly to the 4th Division. Furthermore, you aren't all that talented at keeping secrets." Nanao's shoulders jumped and she averted her eyes. She was just too cute sometimes. "There's something you left out of that report, isn't there?"
She grimaced, so it must be pretty bad, but she still spoke in a strong, clear voice, "The 3rd Division barracks have been decimated. Captain Ōtoribashi was fortunately elsewhere, but . . ." Nanao hesitated. Never a good sign. "Most every member of the 3rd Division present at the barracks has been killed. Including Lieutenant Kira Izuru and many of the seated officers."
Shunsui closed his eyes and took a deep breath. This war, or whatever it was, just started and already they were losing some important people. "That settles it then. Nanao-chan, I want you and everyone else here to move out immediately."
"Captain, we can't-"
"I'm giving you an order, Lieutenant." Shunsui wasn't very good at sounding all serious, but he managed well enough here, "Our enemy is powerful, and we can't afford to lose a part of our support structure so early in what will be, in all likelihood, a drawn-out conflict." He met Nanao's worried gaze with a relaxed wink.
Despite potentially undercutting the gravity of his orders, Nanao lowered her head. "I understand, Captain. I'll have the scouts move out as soon as possible."
"Excellent. I'm counting on you, Nanao-chan." He smiled at her, but once again she proved how clever she could be.
"Don't you dare think about simply stalling the enemy. These Quincies are strong, and even you won't have room to relax when they attack." The worry hadn't left her eyes, but Nanao managed to recover her usual stoic air, "Don't die, Captain. At least promise you'll fight to win."
"I promise. And I won't die. I'm not a Captain of the Gotei 13 for nothing, you know." For a moment, Nanao just looked back at him, worry forming thin lines around her eyes, so Shunsui kept his back straight. He couldn't be completely honest with her, and she knew it. Better to keep things short and simple for now.
Nanao eventually saluted and left. In no time, the entire courtyard was shifting as members of the 8th Division prepared to move. In mere minutes, Shunsui sat alone in that vast courtyard.
It never felt good to lie to Nanao, but he was pretty much used to it at this point. The trick was never to outright lie, but to instead avoid the truth. In this case, though, he had had no choice but to make a promise he couldn't keep.
All of the reports they'd received and sent out had made it clear enough. This was going to be a long fight. That meant the Gotei couldn't afford to show their hand just yet. When one of those pillar Quincies came for him he wouldn't be able to go all out.
"I guess saying that I wouldn't die so confidently was also a lie." He said aloud.
"Indeed." The voice echoed in that empty courtyard, but Shunsui was not surprised. Just as the reports said, these Quincies from the pillars gave off Reishi signatures the same as Shinigami.
"Hello there." Shunsui stood and approached the Quincy. "I guess I should thank you for waiting until my troops were all moved out to show up."
"That was hardly my intention, I assure you." The Quincy, a neat looking man with a rather impressive mustache, politely said. "I was merely considering my own safety. I am quite confident in my strength, but with so many additional factors even my confidence was shaken. That is all."
"Well then," Shunsui smiled. This man had every reason to be confident. The power he could feel was certainly enough to pose a threat, and he had a feeling this wasn't the Quincy's full power, "I suppose there isn't any reason to delay this fight further. I am Kyōraku Shunsui, Captain of the Gotei 13's 8th Division." Reaching behind his back, Shunsui reveals the already released pair of Katen Kyōkotsu.
"Robert Accutrone. Sternritter of the Wandenreich under His Majesty Yhwach." The Quincy, Accutrone, mimicked Shunsui, reaching behind his back and revealing a stark white handgun exuding a powerful Reishi.
"Not a bow? How modern of you." Shunsui whistled, trying to get a rise out of his opponent.
The stone-faced Quincy didn't react at all to the prodding. "I'll warn you now, Captain, if you face the might of the Wandenreich under the assumption that we are the same as the Quincies of old, you will be thoroughly crushed underfoot."
"Thanks for the warning, old man." With the sound of a gunshot, Shunsui's hat fell to the ground. "I knew I could get under your skin," he said, smiling.
With his gun pointed straight at Shunsui and his stony expression unchanged, Accutrone growled, "I am not old."
"I hope you like games, old man."
Simultaneously, the figures of both men vanished as their fight began.
+ Break +
"Captain! Are you alright?!" Lieutenant Abarai Renji called as he approached. Rukia ran beside him. What did these fools think they were doing?
6th Division Captain Kuchiki Byakuya kept his features smooth despite his growing irritation. This was the last place he wanted to see Rukia or Renji. "What are you doing here?" he demanded, "Renji, you were ordered to command the forces at the 6th Division barracks, were you not? And Rukia . . ." She looked up at him expectantly. At least she could recognize her mistake, "I doubt Captain Ukitake ordered you to come find me. Explain yourselves."
"Nii-sama," Rukia was the first to speak up, "we've received reports that the Captains are being targeted by powerful enemies. I couldn't get a hold of Captain Ukitake, so I came along with Renji until I receive word."
"You do not know the location of your Captain, yet you are here. I expected better from you." Rukia lowered her head, as she should. The Captain of the 13th Division was not a weakling, but for his Lieutenant to be unable to contact him was cause for concern. Byakuya turned his attention to Renji. "And you?"
Renji's back stiffened, "Sir! When I heard the reports, I left the seated officers in charge and came after you to offer support should one of these powerful Quincies approach you!"
Byakuya's blood pressure rose significantly, but he kept his cool. This was no time to go overboard scolding a couple of disobedient children. They were already here, so he may as well put them to work. "I'll be having a long talk with the both of you after all of this is over. Until then, follow me." Without waiting for them to respond, Byakuya set off. Rukia and Renji fell in behind him immediately, ready for whatever orders he might give.
They truly had grown. The day he could no longer scold them like children might come sooner than he expected.
Byakuya squeezed the hilt of his sword. Optimistic fantasies could wait. Right now he had a mission to carry out. The Shinigami forces were being pushed back by the surprisingly large Quincy army, and no doubt news of the devastation at the 3rd Division barracks had reached all of the Captains' ears by now.
If the Captains could rally and eliminate the threat of the Quincies that emerged from the blue-white pillars, then they could turn the battle around.
It was their turn to push.
"Nii-sama! Do you feel that?" Rukia turned towards a source of powerful Reishi, sweat beading on her forehead. Renji stepped up beside her, sword already drawn. He was grinding his teeth quite harshly.
"I do. Prepare yourselves." They had every right to worry. The Reishi that was coming towards them was certainly at the level of a Gotei Captain. The enemy was approaching slowly. Whoever they were, they were in no hurry.
Just then another powerful Reishi appeared and closed in with incredible speed. Byakuya and the others barely had time to brace themselves as the owner of that high-speed power crashed into the ground, enveloping the area in an obscuring cloud of dust.
"Scatter." The blade of Byakuya's Zanpakuto dissolved, splitting into a swarm of tiny blades. Using this blade swarm he blew away the dust cloud, revealing the owner of the powerful Reishi. It was a Quincy . . . most likely.
"What's this?! I got here first?!" The Quincy, wearing an odd mask that covered his entire head, save for his eyes and jaw, shouted as he scanned the area with exaggerated gestures. "That makes me the winner!" His laughter was somehow louder than his obnoxious shouting.
Having no patience for whatever buffoonery the man could bring, Byakuya struck at the Quincy, sending his blades in a tight stream towards the masked man like a razor sharp gust of wind. As expected, he dodged the attack with ease. Despite the man's impressive, heavy-seeming physique, he could really move. Hirenkyaku, no doubt. Now to test his durability.
"Roar! Zabimaru!" Renji leapt over Byakuya's head, his released blade already extending to strike at the Quincy. The spiked end of Zabimaru shot at the masked man and found its target with the boom of sliced air. And again, as expected, the Quincy was unfazed. The attack bounced off his body without so much as a scratch.
Byakuya moved his arm to block Rukia from stepping forward. Having her test the Quincy's capabilities further by attempting to freeze him would be enlightening, but they'd taken too much time already.
The other one was coming.
"Step back, you two. There's no more time to test the waters." Rukia and Renji did as they were told while Byakuya stepped forward. From here on, they would be on support duty.
A Quincy in a long trench coat stepped casually around the corner at the end of the street. His long, jet black hair and face mask covered in spikes gave off the impression of someone trying too hard to look intimidating. But his eyes; large dark pools that sent a shiver down Byakuya's spine. What was that?
"You're late, Äs! You really need to be more enthusiastic! His Majesty gave us this duty himself didn't he?" The larger Quincy spoke as if he hadn't just been attacked. That was frustrating. Even more frustrating, the new arrival barely took note of Byakuya and the others.
"I was just around the corner, Mask. I think you need to tone your enthusiasm down. If you keep rushing ahead, you're going to cause trouble for the rest of us." Much like his eyes, the trench coat Quincy's voice seeped into Byakuya's nerves. It took a conscious effort not to start shaking. Something was strange about this man's presence.
Whatever it was he was doing, the others weren't resisting it nearly as well. Byakuya could hear them shifting and sliding further away as if to retreat. With two Captain-class enemies right in front of them, retreat might be an appropriate strategy. He couldn't have Rukia and Renji exposed to that kind of danger.
Wait.
What was he thinking? Running away wasn't an option! The Quincies were a threat that needed to be dealt with immediately. And Rukia and Renji were Lieutenants of the Gotei 13. They could hold their own if they weren't already adding to Byakuya's strength.
Byakuya grit his teeth and confirmed his grip on his sword. The tiny blade petals of Senbonzakura's Shikai had already reformed in preparation for the fight to come.
The Quincy in the trench coat was looking at him. Meeting his eyes sent a paralyzing jolt through his arms and legs, but it only lasted a moment. Whatever it was this enemy was doing, he would overcome it. He was a Captain of the Gotei 13. His strength was nothing to scoff at no matter the technique or power he faced.
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised," the scratchy voice sounded like crunching glass underfoot, "most of the Shinigami I've encountered so far have collapsed, foaming at the mouth at the sight of me, but you are a Captain. And I assume the two behind you are of the Lieutenant class? Yes, yes, of course the passive effect wouldn't be as potent against opponents of such strength of will." The Quincy raised his arms and summoned what looked like a group of spikes in the air around him. It seemed as if his attack was about to come when the larger Quincy put himself in the way.
"Äs Nödt! Don't tell me you were thinking of taking all three of them by yourself. That is tremendously unfair!" The masked man pumped his fists and stomped his feet like a child. "A Captain and two Lieutenants? That's a grand feast to keep to yourself, you fiend!"
The creepy Quincy, Äs Nödt's arms wilted slightly while rolled his eyes. "I was not planning on keeping anything to myself, Mask. You may participate as you wish."
Mask laughed in that same obnoxious way, "Wonderful! I'll do just that! I can't let you have all the fun after all!"
"Enough. Bankai." Byakuya dropped his sword and it passed through the ground as if through water. Large blades rose up all around, trapping everyone present in a hallway of giant swords. Those blades shattered, however, becoming a storm of razor sharp petals that engulfed the Quincies. This was hardly enough to defeat enemies of their level, but it would surely wear them down.
Or so he thought.
Shielding his face with his arms, the Quincy called Mask burst out of the raging torrent of petals. In an instant, he passed Byakuya, laughing all the way, "I'll let you play with the Captain for a while, Äs Nödt!" He extended his arms and barreled into Rukia and Renji at full speed. Dragging them along under his arms, Mask crashed through a wall, then another and another until he hit a building, causing it to collapse.
Byakuya almost turned to pursue and rescue the others, but he stopped himself. It took a great effort. Senbonzakura's petals still churned, ripping and tearing the remaining Quincy. But something wasn't right. The sheer number of petals blocked Byakuya's view, but he could tell they weren't having the effect he wanted. Focusing, he increased their speed and brought them closer together. Whatever defensive abilities the Quincy was using, he'd break through them eventually.
Suddenly, several points of light passed through the storm of tiny blades. They shot at Byakuya from all directions, their sharp points aiming to pierce his body. He was being underestimated. Utilizing Shunpo, he easily avoided the glowing spikes and repositioned-
A spike appeared as if from nowhere at his flank and mercilessly stabbed into his side. Byakuya clutched at the wound and found that he felt no pain. Moving his hand, he discovered that there was no wound. Aside from the sensation of the spike piercing him, it was as if he hadn't been struck at all.
"Now then, let's see if you can resist after taking a direct attack." Äs Nödt casually stepped out of the storm of blades, his terrifyingly deep eyes fixed on Byakuya. "Already I am impressed. Most of my opponents would have keeled over already. But not you."
Byakuya willed his petals to disperse and come down on the Quincy again while he repositioned again. But his legs wouldn't move. His arms were stiff as well. Was he being paralyzed somehow? A clammy, cold sweat coated his neck and back. Was it poison then?
"Have you worked it out yet? I'll give you a hint: It isn't poison." Äs Nödt's scratchy voice made the hair on Byakuya's arms stand on end.
He needed to figure out the technique Äs Nödt was using or else defeat him quickly. To that end, he pulled a small cluster of blades towards himself, creating small bleeding cuts on his cheeks and shoulders. "Senkei."
With a roar like blistering winds the innumerable blades of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi congealed into long rows of glowing swords. The rows stacked together and curled in on themselves surrounding Äs Nödt and Byakuya both.
"You said it isn't poison," Byakuya said, forcing his trembling shoulders still, "then it must be some kind of illusion."
Äs Nödt laughed. It was a grating noise. "I suppose calling it an illusion wouldn't be too far off the mark. Our conscious minds do tend to seek out convenient explanations when we don't want to face the truth. And all the while, our subconscious shrieks."
"Illusion or not, it makes no difference! I will defeat you soon enough, then go save Renji and Rukia!" Byakuya called one of the glowing swords to his hands. Just wrapping his fingers around the hilt was difficult. He could barely maintain a tight grip.
"Renji and Rukia, hmm? Are you really sure you can afford to worry about others right now?"
Byakuya's breath caught. For some reason, he couldn't stop his shoulders from shaking anymore, and his feet were rooted where he stood. Where had all of that urgency gone? He needed to go rescue the others, but he couldn't get Äs Nödt's words out of his head. They echoed in his ears, just on the edge of notice.
Could he afford to worry about them?
"Should I give you the answer? If you haven't realized it yet, then I may as well." The Quincy stepped closer, forcing Byakuya to shift back. "I don't blame you for not figuring it out. Something like a Captain of the Gotei 13 would have buried it beneath their confidence in their own strength." Äs Nödt squinted his eyes in an approximation of a smile. "It's Fear, dear Captain."
Narrowing his eyes, Byakuya considered what the Quincy said. Fear? That was ridiculous. Fear was ever present in battle, and in every battle he faced it head on. To conquer fear was necessary for every Shinigami. Byakuya squeezed the hilt of his sword as hard as he could and forced himself to move. He stepped forward and swung at Äs Nödt with all his strength.
But the Quincy stepped back out of his range. "The strength of your will is truly impressive, but in the end, fear conquers all. And my Fear is especially potent." A single spike appeared between them and shot towards Byakuya. It struck him square in the chest, and this time, it left a mark.
Byakuya's body was flung back. He righted himself in the air and managed to land on his feet, but his knees buckled. Feeling at his chest, his fingers touched a shallow, bloody wound.
"My thorns impart a Fear that far exceeds what one might experience naturally. They pierce through the barriers our hearts erect to shield us from our most primal fears, bringing them up to the surface of our minds." The Quincy's unblinking stare bore into Byakuya, "And their effect is magnified with every strike."
Äs Nödt's words rang true. A feeling of nausea weakened Byakuya's legs further, exacerbating the shakiness. His mind was in disarray. He wanted to scream. But why? There was no reason to be afraid. And yet . . .
Byakuya shut his eyes; squeezed them shut so tight he feared his eyelids might tear. He had to calm down. His heartbeat, faster than it would be after a hard workout, pulsed in his ears. His breathing came irregularly, switching frantically from shallow to deep and back again. He needed to calm down. Calm down. Calm down!
He saw Rukia. She looked up to him. Depended on him.
"Do not feel too badly, Captain. It is only natural for fear to bring us to our knees."
He'd treated her so harshly. It wouldn't be strange for her to hate him. Yet she still looked at him with respect and admiration.
"It goes beyond reason. Fear is irrational. It goes beyond experience and self-image. Those are constructs we form to make sense of the world. Fear is beyond sense."
She had grown so much. In many ways, she had outpaced his expectations.
"Fear is instinctual."
He was so proud of the woman she had become.
"True fear cannot be explained away."
He would see her face again, and he would tell her just how proud of her he was. He would.
"It defies explanation. It simply is."
He could see her now. Those eyes looking up to him. That smile lifting him up.
Her face melted away.
Her hair fell out.
Her skull was exposed.
Her skin decayed.
"It cannot be overcome." Äs Nödt spoke directly into Byakuya's ear. He was right next to him. He had to get away!
An intense stabbing pain traveled through Byakuya's shoulder. He screamed and lashed out wildly with the blade still in hand. The edge cut nothing but air. Howling, Byakuya charged. The fear that had rooted him to the spot before now spurred him on. But his movements lacked the form and practiced finesse that they should have had. He was practically stumbling about waving a stick.
"You are just full of surprises, Captain. With so much of my Fear you should be a babbling invalid at this point, yet here you are rushing at me like an animal." Äs Nödt casually avoided Byakuya's wild strikes, taunting him all the while.
Haunted by horrific visions, Byakuya stumbled around the arena demarcated by his glowing swords. It was just as the Quincy said: Fear is instinctual. It was an instinct that moved the body separately from reason. But that didn't mean reason couldn't wrestle control away from instinct.
With one more wild swing, Byakuya pushed the Quincy away and planted his feet. Fear could shake him to the core, but he was a Captain of the Gotei 13. He was the head of one of the Four Great Noble Houses. He would beat back that fear with his pride! "Ikka Senjinka!"
The thousands of glowing swords making up the rings of Senkei began to move. They collapsed into each other, forming into a giant mass of swords, all of which were aimed directly at a shocked Äs Nödt. Breathing and sweating heavily, Byakuya launched his ultimate technique at the Quincy.
The swords fell, shaking the ground and creating a shockwave that shook the foundations of the surrounding buildings. The ground cracked and walls collapsed. The crashing of the mass of swords lasted for several seconds, the rumbling of their collision never ceasing until Byakuya pulled them back.
Retrieving the swarm of blades and pulling them into a tight ring around him, Byakuya waited. He was exhausted already, but he couldn't afford to collapse just yet. His attack had been powerful, but his opponent wasn't weak. Äs Nödt was alive. He couldn't afford to believe otherwise until he saw the man's death for himself.
As Byakuya calmed himself and caught his breath, Äs Nödt pulled himself from the crater created by Senbonzakura's attack. His trench coat was torn and tattered. His hair was jagged in some places and wounds clearly bled all over his body, staining his white clothes with splotches of dark red. His horrifying, unblinking gaze was rumpled, his eyebrows knitted and the skin between them creased with rage.
"There comes a point, Captain," the Quincy growled, "when surprises no longer entertain. I'm quite finished with you. I'll have you die now." Several thorns of light appeared around Äs Nödt, flying towards Byakuya as soon as they appeared. But he knew the danger of those spikes now.
It took some concentration, but Byakuya executed Shunpo techniques that he worked to perfection in his youth, bringing himself to Äs Nödt's back and striking him with his palm with incredible power. As the Quincy flew through the air, he struck at him again with Senbonzakura's countless petals. The thorns dissipated as the storm of tiny blades slammed Äs Nödt into the ground.
The tides were turning in Byakuya's favor, and he wasn't about to let the opportunity slip. He'd end the fight with his next attack no matter what. He raised his hand, calling all of his blades together into his grip. He'd form them all into a single sword; a sword that held the full might of his Zanpakuto. This was the end.
A pair of large boots were planted between Byakuya's shoulder blades in that instant, sending him flying into one of the only walls that still stood.
"What is this, Äs?! I leave you for just a few moments and this is the state you end up in? I'm embarrassed for you!" Mask's laugh was the sound of pure despair.
"You did not have to interfere!" Äs Nödt stood on unstable legs, the number of bleeding wounds having multiplied.
"Say that when you aren't about to keel over, eh! I had to rush over here in such a hurry that I didn't get a chance to finish off those small fry. You owe me for interrupting me and forcing me to rescue you!"
So Rukia and Renji were still alive. Byakuya had to heave a sigh of relief before digging himself out of the rubble. If those two were still alive, then there was still hope. Äs Nödt alone had almost pushed him over the edge, so there was no way he'd be able to take on both Quincies at once.
But so long as he could distract them and ensure the others' survival, he'd consider that a victory.