Ichigo kept his eyes forward as the group ran further and further away from Captain Kyōraku. By now, the fight should have started, but all he could feel were bursts of Spiritual Pressure that were distinctly Quincy. It was unnerving, but he tried to take it as a sign that a fight was happening. And as long as it was happening, it meant that Captain Kyōraku was still alive.
Lieutenant Ise apparently shared that sentiment, as she broke off after a short discussion with Shinji. When she left, a hole opened up in the formation, allowing Ichigo to slip in.
He drew close to Shinji, but didn't say anything. Everyone was on edge and he didn't want to be the one to push someone over the line.
"I know what you want to say, and don't even think about it," Shinji said. It was that obvious?
"You know we can't keep sending the leaders out while the group moves on. What are we going to do if there are more enemies than we anticipated and we end up without someone in charge?"
"Don't start, Ichigo." Shinji brushed him off as he led the group down a side alley. He clearly didn't want to discuss the issue, but Ichigo didn't back down. "We discussed it at length. 'We' being the Captains, you know, the leaders. I'm not a super big fan of the plan either, but we agreed that it was our best shot."
Ichigo sped up, trying to cross Shinji's line of sight. It was a lot harder to dismiss an idea if someone threw it in your face. "You can't know that for sure, though. Wouldn't it be faster and easier if we all took on the enemies we run into together? It just feels like we're risking a lot more than necessary."
Shinji shook his head. "Listen, Ichigo, I can tell that you've matured a lot in the last few days, but you've still got some of that bullheaded teenager coming through. Look at the people we have in this party." Ichigo turned his head, taking them all in. "Now, how many of these guys would you say are incapable of defending themselves?"
"That's not what I'm-"
"Isn't it?" Shinji interrupted, shooting Ichigo a dirty look. "You want to change the plan? You want everyone to fight together so you can protect everyone? Give it a rest, kid. You aren't some kind of savior. You're important, sure, but that's all the more reason we need to stick to the plan. So step back, shut up, and let the adults get you to the enemy we need you to fight."
Ichigo found himself unable to argue back. Yeah, he wanted to, but Shinji was right. It was one thing to recognize the growth of his friends and the capabilities of his allies, but it was another thing entirely to actually trust them to get along without him.
Some of the people here could die. That was the reality of the situation. Ichigo couldn't save them all. He couldn't afford to. Not if he wanted to prevent further deaths.
Kicking himself for being so self-centered, Ichigo tired to apologize, "Shinji, I-"
An incredible Reiatsu hit him like a truck, taking the words from his mouth and the air from his lungs. The group skidded to a stop as the hostile Spiritual Pressure got closer.
They'd come out of the alley and onto a wider street, but it was far from a main road. If they got ambushed here, Ichigo might get what he wanted.
And that would be a disaster.
Shinji motioned for Ichigo to step back. He hesitated, but did what he was told. Taking up his position alongside Inoue and the others, he waited for the enemy to arrive.
And arrive he did.
Like a comet, the Quincy fell from the sky with a billowing tail and crashed into the ground a short distance in front of the group. Ichigo had to shield his eyes from the wave of dust that enveloped the area. A voice cut through the murky cloud, blowing the whole thing away.
"You've done well to make it this far, Shinigami! I am impressed, and so consider our meeting a blessing. Today is a day for celebration! We stand together upon the precipice! A new world is about to be born!" The Quincy stepped out of the crater, light glinting off of his winged helmet, and pointed his sword at the group. "Unlike many of my comrades, I am not so cruel as to deny you entry into this new era, so I will give you one chance to turn back now and accept salvation!" His voice shook the stone walls of the buildings all around. It was hardly the most oppressive Spiritual Pressure Ichigo had ever encountered, but it was certainly up there in terms of sheer force.
"This is going to be trouble," Chad said, stepping up beside Ichigo. "It doesn't look like he's going to let us pass."
"A stalling tactic. Strange. I doubt they've given up trying to stop us entirely." Ishida stepped up as well. He eyed the other Quincy with suspicion.
Ichigo felt the same. So far, this was the most blatant attempt to impede their progress. It was weird, then, that the Sternritter hadn't just attacked them outright. Why else would he offer an ultimatum if not to hold them still?
Renji stepped up, stretching his arms. Rukia stepped in time with him, Zanpakuto appearing at her waist. "Hey, Captain Hirako," Renji said, resting Zabimaru on his shoulder. "You can leave this guy to us."
The Quincy laughed. "Two of you? I see the Shinigami are sorely lacking in honor. Next thing you're going to tell me the rest of you intend to just move on while we fight!" His laughter was clearly mocking, but nobody batted an eye.
"There's no honor in war, pal. You guys set the terms of this conflict, so you have to deal with the consequences." Shinji waved his arm, giving Renji and Rukia the go ahead.
"Well said! Fair is fair!" The Quincy threw his arm to the side, ruffling his bright red cape. "As reparations for our poor handling of this conflict, I will agree to a handicap."
Rukia and Renji stood on either side of the enemy, flanking him. "It is brave of you to fight us both," Rukia said, drawing her sword.
"Both?" The Quincy frowned. The upper half of his face was covered by his helmet, but his confusion was easy to read. "You misunderstand. Fighting two of you isn't nearly enough of a handicap. I will take you all on at once."
A moment of stunned silence passed.
"He can't be serious," Inoue muttered.
"No, he definitely is," Ishida responded quietly. "He's clearly quite powerful, and depending on the nature of his Schrift, he might be able to physically stop us from progressing."
Ichigo grit his teeth. This was exactly what he'd wanted, but after talking to Shinji, he understood how much of a problem it was.
Rukia and Renji pushed the Quincy back, pressuring him to the side, and opening a path past him. Shinji started moving through the gap. "What are you all waiting for? We've got places to be!" The group fell into line behind him.
"Wait!" The Quincy held out his hand, stopping Shinji in his tracks. "If you leave now, the fight will be horribly imbalanced! Surely you wouldn't abandon your allies to such a fate. All of you, come at me! That is the only way it will be fair.
Nobody moved, at first. Then Renji moved in. "You talk a big game, pal, but we'll be more than enough!" He sent the enemy flying, then pulled him back down with Zabimaru.
Rukia stepped up next, swinging her sword in a quick arc. The Quincy tried to avoid the swipe, but she caught his arm just below the shoulder. The severed arm spun wildly through the air, frozen. The Quincy grunted, but held his ground. He held out the round shield on his other arm as if to use it as a weapon instead of the sword still clutched in the fingers of his amputated hand.
Whatever power he possessed might have allowed him to go on the offensive, given enough time, but Renji and Rukia didn't give him the chance. They struck at him, again and again, stacking on injury after injury. It was difficult to watch such a beating.
Eventually, Rukia launched the Quincy into the air, his mask exploding in frozen shards. Renji appeared behind him and slammed him back down. The ground shook violently when he hit the ground, and when the dust cleared, his broken body was almost buried in a small crater.
Renji touched back down, grimacing. "What's the deal with this guy? That other masked guy put up more of a fight."
Rukia stepped up beside him, looking equally unnerved. "From what we heard, the members of the Royal Guard should be the most powerful Quincies there are. Something doesn't feel right about this."
"Your concerns are fair, Shinigami!" The Quincy's voice rose from the crater. He didn't sound like someone who'd just taken a severe beating. "Our bout so far has been rather one-sided, but my victory is assured."
"Looks like this guy is all bark." Shinji said, stepping up to the lip of the crater. "After what we saw, there's no way you're winning this."
"Ah, so you're saying if I did win, it would be Miraculous?" the Quincy laughed. Not a chuckle or deriding scoff, but a full-bellied laugh. Did he think he was being funny?
From where Ichigo stood, it didn't sound like a joke. The guy was being beaten, no doubt, but he was acting like it was no big deal. He didn't seem crazy-no delusion was strong enough to make a severed arm and numerous other wounds seem like nothing-so what was his deal?
"He's holding up surprisingly well," Chad muttered. He narrowed his eyes at the crater, his posture tense. Ichigo looked to Inoue and Ishida, but they didn't seem to understand what he was getting at either. Was he saying the Quincy's boasts were more than bravado?
A hand shot up over the lip of the crater. A hand that shouldn't have been there. The Quincy pulled himself out of the hole with a newly grown arm. "There we go," he said happily, stretching his new appendage. Rukia, Renji, and Shinji jumped back, sweat glistening on their faces. It took Ichigo a moment to realize why they were so concerned.
He'd healed way too quickly. Not just his arm, but all of his wounds were gone. The Quincy stood proud, hands on his hips, and looked down at the group. "That was a pleasant warm-up. You may call me Gerard. Gerard Valkyrie! I am a man blessed with the will of the universe. Now come at me! All of you!" He laughed, radiating confidence. He looked so much stronger than he did just minutes ago. Not only that, but he looked somehow taller as well.
Renji and Rukia readied their weapons, but this time, Shinji did as well. He signaled for the others to follow suit.
A sense of dread washed over Ichigo. This encounter was suddenly feeling a lot more favorable for the enemy.
The Shinigami gathered together in a loose formation. They recognized this man, Gerard Valkyrie, as a true threat. They were going to work as a team. That was clearly what Shinji was going for. So when Kenpachi stepped out of line, massive cleaver bouncing on his shoulder, everyone held their breath.
The Captain of the 11th Division stepped right up to Gerard, and although he had a good few inches on the Quincy, they appeared to be sizing each other up, eye to eye. Kenpachi growled, "I'm getting bored. Bring out your strongest guy already."
Gerard's eyes widened. He looked genuinely flabbergasted, and it was no wonder why. He was an elite among elites, and Kenpachi had just talked down to him like he was a lowly messenger. "You want out strongest? How do you know that I am not-"
Kenpachi's sword slammed down, crushing the Quincy. His body splattered against the ground with a wet crash. Kenpachi raised his sword again and slammed it back down. He did this over and over. Ichigo looked away, disgusted by the viscera now spilling into the crater. By the time he stopped, there was nothing left of Gerard Valkyrie but a lumpy red stain on the ground.
"That was . . . well done, Zaraki. Nice going." Shinji said while his Lieutenant emptied her stomach. It was a struggle not to do the same. The rest of the group recoiled as Kenpachi took his place in the formation.
The group started to move. Ichigo and his friends tried their best not to look at the mutilated remains as they passed, but the smell of blood was strong and they couldn't help but gag. Death was one thing, but Ichigo couldn't see himself ever getting used to butchery like that.
"So this is what a Kenpachi's like, huh? A lot messier than I imagined." The group stopped dead. A short figure in a large white jacket was standing mere feet away from Kenpachi. Everyone, from Chad and Ishida to Yoruichi and Urahara-san stared, wide-eyed
Who was he? Where had he come from? How had they missed his Spiritual Pressure? Most importantly of all, why was he provoking Kenpachi of all people?
The Captain of the 11th Division smiled. His grip tightened on his Zanpakuto. He figured it out much faster than Ichigo. "I take it you're that 'Gremmy' guy the little Quincy told me about?"
"That's me." Gremmy Thoumeaux tilted his head back to look up at Kenpachi, giving Ichigo a clear view of his smiling face. The man purported to be the strongest Quincy alive was younger than he'd imagined.
A wave of realization washed over the group. No matter how much sense Shinji's arguments for breaking away and continuing towards their goal, it was hard not to feel the need to attack this Quincy.
Liltotto's report had been clear. If there was any Quincy worth avoiding, it was Gremmy Thoumeaux. Yhwach was apparently trying to become a god, but this kid was already near that level. He "makes things real," she'd said. The fact that they didn't know exactly what that meant made his presence all the more frightening.
"It's about time you showed up," Kenpachi said. "Let's get started. I'm tired of waiting around!" He swung his enormous hunk of a sword, but the Quincy vanished just before it made contact. The earth beneath Kenpachi's feet shattered, throwing up a cloud of dirt and dust. Ichigo covered his mouth, but another quick swing of Kenpachi's sword cleared the air.
Gremmy now stood at the head of the group, just a short distance away from Shinji. He didn't look at all bothered by Kenpachi's attack. He didn't even take his hands out of his pockets. "Before we fight, I think it's important you get a little demonstration of my power."
"Not a chance, kid!" Shinji whipped out his Zanpakuto, spinning the blade around his finger before the words left his mouth. The Quincy started to tilt his head, looking like his sense of balance was disrupted by Sakanade, but then he righted himself.
Gremmy chuckled at Shinji's sneer. "There are lots of different kinds of Zanpakuto, right? With all sorts of wild powers? That's pretty cool, but whatever your sword can do, I don't think it'll have much of an effect on me."
Lieutenant Hinamori raised her own sword, "Snap, Tobiume!" Her Zanpakuto flashed, growing a trio of angled prongs. With a wide, two-handed swing, she sent a barrage of small fireballs at the Quincy. He was engulfed in a small explosion. It was, admittedly, a fairly weak attack, but judging by the discerning focus in her eyes, she wasn't trying to overpower him.
As expected, Gremmy was unscathed when the fire dissipated. He opened his mouth wide and yawned. "Fire from a sword? I don't know. Doesn't seem like it would be that hot to me." He wasn't bothered in the slightest. Ichigo didn't need to see the sweat trickling down Hinamori's face to know things were going poorly.
Ichigo took a step forward. This wasn't a time to stick to the plan. If this guy could negate the effects of any attack just by imagining he could, They'd need to throw everything at him until something stuck. He took another step, then someone grabbed his arm. He turned his head, locking eyes with Ishida.
His friend shook his head, "This isn't our fight, Kurosaki. Let the Captains handle it."
"Are you serious?" Ichigo pulled his arm free with a quick jerk. He fixed Ishida with an incredulous glare. "If this guy's power is as strong as we've been told, then there's no telling what kind of damage he could do."
"You're right, but consider this, Kurosaki: Despite being the strongest Quincy, Gremmy Thoumeaux is still a subordinate. If his power is as destructive as you believe, don't you think the Wandenreich would have just had him imagine the Soul Society out of existence?" Ishida's level gaze never wavered. He was concerned, the same as Ichigo, but he was handling it much better.
And, though he didn't really want to admit it, Ishida's argument made sense. The fact that this particular Quincy was only just now showing up probably meant the enemy needed to save him for emergencies. There had to be some limit to his powers that the Quincy leaders were worried about. "Fine," he said, breathing out. 'But I have to admit, I'm feeling like a dog pulling against its leash here."
"An apt comparison." Ishida smiled. Then his eyes flicked away and he became more tense.
Ichigo followed his eyes and felt his own body tense up. Gremmy was moving. He took slow, meandering steps, but he was heading towards the group. And he was smiling.
"Say, I just had the funniest idea." He pointed to Shinji and Hinamori, who backed away carefully. "Have you ever thought about what it would be like to have cookies for bones? I think that would be neat."
Shinji opened his mouth to say something, but a loud crack stopped him. He turned to his Lieutenant, whose leg had just snapped in a gruesome direction. He reached out to her, but his arm bent with another loud crack, as if simply extending his arm had been enough to break it. While he stared at his mangled arm, the leg that he was putting most of his weight on, buckled and bent, sending him crashing to the ground with a series of disturbing sounds.
Hinamori stared at her broken leg, mouth hanging open. She seemed to puff up with panic, and Ichigo couldn't blame her. A low whine escaped her throat, but before she could start screaming, Shinji shouted. "Momo! Keep it together! If you lose your cool now, you're dead for sure!" He spoke slowly, moving his mouth carefully in case the sudden brittleness applied to his jaw as well, but his voice carried.
To his credit, those words managed to calm Ichigo down a little. The thing was, though, he didn't think he could bring himself to move, even if he wanted to. For once, the leash around his neck hung slack.
Charging in now would invite a similar type of attack. Until they figured out what the Quincy's limits were, they couldn't afford to be so reckless.
No matter how badly it ate him up inside.
Kenpachi strode through the group, confident; heedless of the threat Gremmy's power presented. Ichigo knew he was a battle idiot, but didn't think he was an actual idiot. He stepped out in front of Shinji and Hinamori, hefting his massive cleaver of a Zanpakuto.
"I was hoping to clear out the small fries before getting to the climactic battle, but you aren't going to let me, are you?" Gremmy smiled up at Kenpachi, hands in his pockets.
"And what am I supposed to do in the meantime? Twiddle my thumbs? Don't make me laugh." Kenpachi loomed over the young Quincy, whose grin only grew wider. "You're a smug little prick, aren't ya?"
"I thought you could use the opportunity to get a handle on my abilities, but if you insist. Go ahead. Try to cut me. But keep in mind, I don't think it'll work. After all, if my opponent is incredibly strong, I just have to imagine myself being stronger than steel."
Without hesitation, Kenpachi raised his sword and swung it. The blade connected with the Quincy's shoulder, sending a tremor though the ground. The edge didn't even cut through his jacket.
Everyone held their breath. Did they get the same chill that Ichigo did?
Gremmy chuckled. "And there you have it. I told you it wouldn't-"
Kenpachi grunted, and his sword tore through the Quincy's flesh. The blade smashed into the ground, creating an even greater shock as Gremmy's arm fell down beside it.
Gremmy stared at that arm, disbelief stretching his face. Kenpachi calmly rested his Zanpakuto on his shoulder. "If you're going to become harder than steel, then all I have to do is cut you the same way I'd cut something stronger than steel. And that goes for anything else you imagine yourself being harder than. Part of what it means to be Kenpachi is that there isn't anything I can't cut."
A moment passed, no longer than a heartbeat. Then Gremmy's arm reappeared as if the grievous wound he'd received seconds ago hadn't happened. He stuck the new hand in his pocket and smirked. "I've decided. I'm gonna fight you without raising a finger. A good old-fashioned brains versus brawn showdown. Sounds like fun, right?"
Inoue dashed forward, and Ichigo followed her. For the time being, it looked like Kenpachi could keep Gremmy occupied. If they were going to help Shinji and Hinamori, now was the time.
"You're starting piss me off, kid," Kenpachi growled.
Inoue set to work healing Hinamori's leg while Ichigo tried to help Shinji up as gently as possible.
"That's fine. It'll be funnier if you go all red in the face while I beat you entirely in my own mind." The entire road was bathed in a hot orange glow as a plume of molten rock sprang up behind Gremmy. It surged over his head, threatening to crash into Kenpachi and engulf the rest of the group.
A single mighty swipe of the Kenpachi's sword was enough to split the wave, diverting it entirely. As he leapt into the air, Ichigo and Inoue tried to drag the injured pair out of harm's way.
Kenpachi soared with his sword raised once again, but a large body of water suddenly appeared in the air around him. Together with the Captain of the 11th Division , the water fell and flowed down into a large fissure in the ground that definitely wasn't there just a moment ago. The gap in the earth closed as suddenly as it opened, trapping Kenpachi below the surface. A violent rumbling started soon after.
The ground exploded, sending massive chunks of debris flying through the air. Renji and the others destroyed the rocks falling towards Ichigo and Inoue, but the ones that fell in Gremmy's direction simply vanished as they came close.
Kenpachi appeared from the hole and charged at the Quincy. Gremmy took a step back and a massive, glossy black pillar appeared between him and the Shinigami. The structure fell with one slash, and for the first time, Gremmy grit his teeth. Kenpachi's charge didn't lose any momentum, so another pillar sprang up beneath the Quincy's feet, carrying him high into the air.
The ground shattered as Kenpachi leapt to follow, leaving the rest of the group behind.
+ Break +
Gremmy bit his lip. He'd never been forced to retreat before. Sure, he'd casually distanced himself from his opponents, but never once had he ever fled like this.
He soared through the air. He'd never actually learned Hirenkyaku, much to the dismay of his comrades, but why would he bother? He could fly if he wanted to. In fact, if he thought hard enough, he could make the universe move around him. That was the way The Visionary worked. But that man . . . Gremmy couldn't seem to get away from him.
The Kenpachi gave chase, taking great leaps to stay as close as possible, growling something fierce the whole way. He shouldn't have been able to keep up with Gremmy if he didn't want him to. Yet, Gremmy couldn't seem to imagine a world where this master of the blade would ever fall behind.
That was dangerous.
The Visionary was an extraordinarily powerful ability. It changed the world to fit Gremmy's imagination. That included any frightening thoughts. He couldn't count the number of times a massacre had occurred because he was having an off day.
He wondered how the Kenpachi would fare inside one of his waking nightmares. And therein lie the danger. The reputation this Shinigami possessed was great enough to make him known in the Wandenreich. Gremmy's prior assumptions were affecting his ability to fight.
So he stopped.
Landing after travelling halfway around the Seireitei, Gremmy turned on his pursuer and glared at the taller man. Mood was a major factor in the functionality of his Schrift, so he tried psyching himself up for a fight. For once, he decided to borrow Lille's more passionate perspective.
"Done running?" The Kenpachi looked down at Gremmy. There was no anger or frustration in the lines of his face. If anything, he looked disappointed. How . . . impudent? Was that the right word? It certainly sounded like something Lille would say.
Yeah, that worked. Gremmy produced a low growl in the back of his throat. "I don't run from sinners, Shinigami!" Alright, that sounded just about right. Maybe a little on the heavy side, but he was starting to feel more confident. This wasn't an opponent with a terrifying reputation, it was a lowly bug that dirtied the world just by existing. "Your life is itself a crime. I will do my duty and exterminate you."
The Shinigami cocked an eyebrow at that. He tilted his head, chewing on Gremmy's words. "The hell is that? Duty?" He said, baring his teeth. "Aren't you supposed to be the strongest Quincy?"
"That's right. I'm . . . God's ultimate weapon!" Nice! He was really getting into this.
"Whatever. Before I cut you, I've just got one question. Is this really all you want out of this?"
What a ridiculous question? He was a member of the Shutzstaffel! He had responsibilities and . . . and . . . What was this sensation. It was like . . . an itch in the back of his mind. "What do you mean?" He asked, feeling his borrowed fervor dripping away.
The Kenpachi rolled his eyes. "You're the strongest, right? Then you shouldn't be satisfied with 'doing your duty' or whatever. You should seek out the strongest enemies you can and fight them to prove that you're the strongest!"
Those words hit Gremmy like a gust of wind. His hood flipped back in response to that feeling.
He should . . . prove he was the strongest? Why? He didn't need to prove anything. He'd always been the strongest. Haschwalth, and even Yhwach himself, recognized that. The Visionary was unbeatable.
But then, the man in front of him was also the strongest, wasn't he? Reports said that this wasn't the same Kenpachi that Yhwach knew, but he'd still feared the woman who held the title way back then. If Yhwach was afraid of someone who held the title of Kenpachi, then they must be pretty strong.
Maybe strong enough to give Gremmy an actual challenge.
What would that be like? A real struggle. A real fight! He smiled so wide his cheeks started to hurt.
"A fight to see who's really the strongest, huh? I like the sound of that, Kenpachi." It was a great idea, but what if this guy didn't live up to the hype? How disappointing it would be! "Tell you what, if you can make me take my hands out of my pockets, I'll show you why I'm the strongest. How does that sound?"
"Damn, you're annoying. Even if you don't give it your all, I'm still going all out!" The Kenpachi charged with blinding speed, and Gremmy's heart started pumping hard.
The ground between them began to swim. It ebbed and flowed, swirling like a layer of oil on water. Right now, Gremmy wanted it to be as malleable as possible. Thick ribbons of earth shot up, coiling around the charging Shinigami like giant snakes, before surging down on him.
They were cut to pieces in an instant, and Kenpachi kept coming.
Gremmy should have been afraid. This man made all other challengers seem small by comparison. The sheer depth and intensity of his Spiritual Pressure was enough to justify Yhwach's fear. And he was supposed to be a master swordsman on top of that? Unbelievable!
And yet, that pounding in his chest drove him to stand firm. He'd never experience an encounter this stimulating ever again. He should have been buying time for Yhwach to complete his plans, but none of that was important anymore. He could show the world, really prove that he was the strongest. It wasn't just words. It wasn't just reputation.
Gremmy leaned in, and a line of powerful firearms of every caliber he could imagine appeared. They started firing, bullets ripping through the air at the man the Shinigami called "strongest."
The man with the giant cleaver didn't even bother dodging. Instead, he held his massive blade out in front of him. The bullets pinged off the broad metal slab like plastic BBs. It wasn't enough, so Gremmy thought up a few missile pods. They appeared in a wall over his head and started unloading.
Missiles screamed towards the Kenpachi, dipping and arching on the approach. Many of them struck the ground around their target, engulfing him in a series of fiery explosions, but even those didn't seem to be able to slow him down.
More precision was necessary, it seemed. Gremmy focused, launching a missile he'd created with a durable casing, powerful boosters, and a specially designed nose meant for penetrating highly fortified structures. It flew directly at the Kenpachi. The Shinigami's arm flashed, and the missile split cleanly down the middle. It exploded, throwing up an enormous ball of fire, but still, it wasn't enough.
Kenpachi burst from the smoke and flames just moments later, completely unfazed.
Laughter bubbled violently from Gremmy's throat, harmonizing with the thunderous beat from within his chest. Every nerve was screaming, every iota of his being relished in the tension. The world around him took on a faded cast while the beast that was charging him burst alight with all manner of vibrant colors.
This was a fight. This is what he'd been missing all these years. It all became starkly apparent. The Wandenreich, the Shutzstaffel, Haschwalth and Yhwach . . . they were all holding him back. Had he ever truly experienced his power before? Had he ever truly seen what The Visionary could do?
The Kenpachi was close now. Close enough that Gremmy felt the need to step back. This time, though, he wasn't retreating. He drew the enemy in, imagining a stunning ambush. Dozens of blades of all shapes and sizes appeared in the air around the Shinigami. The swung and sliced, stabbing at his legs and face in a perfectly choreographed dance. And still he barreled through! He disregarded many of the blades outright, but for the larger ones that physically blocked his path, he crushed them like they were made of flimsy paper.
Just as quickly as his corridor of swords appeared, Kenpachi was through it. And now, he was right on top of Gremmy. The butcher knife slammed down, taking Gremmy in the shoulder again. Things weren't going to go the same as last time, though.
If the Kenpachi could cut through materials harder than steel, then Gremmy simply had to imagine himself as being tougher than that. The Shinigami's blade bit into his flesh, but went no further. Kenpachi pushed harder, threatening to lop off another arm, but Gremmy was ready.
Taking a page out of that bearded monk's book, he imagined a giant hand. The hand of some war deity, perhaps, calloused and thick. The spectral appendage slammed Kenpachi with an open palm, pinning him to the ground before his blade could tear through Gremmy's body.
The giant hand shattered, taking Gremmy's breath away. He'd imagined that hand being even more durable than his own body, and the Kenpachi had broken it into tiny pieces. Gremmy leapt back, thinking up an obscuring fog. He'd lose a close up fight very quickly. Using the precious few seconds before the cloud was dispersed, he needed to devise new weapons and strategies.
A sudden pain caused him to stumble. He touched the front of his jacket, and the tips of his fingers came back slick and red. He'd been cut. Deep, too. The gash ran straight up his torso. When had that happened?
Ah, yes. When the spectral hand had shattered, Gremmy was standing right next to it. Kenpachi's sword must have grazed him on the way up. He'd been so absorbed in the fight that he hadn't noticed. Very dangerous.
If this was how slowly he healed when distracted, then . . .
Kenpachi rushed out of the cloud, raising his hulking sword. He handled the thing like it weighed nothing, swinging like a madman and landing a flurry of slashes. Gremmy's imagined defenses were no match for that wicked strength. If he didn't stop it soon, Gremmy was going to be in big trouble.
So he raised his hands . . .
And he took hold of reality.
Space stretched. It didn't merely appear to, it did. Kenpachi was now several meters away. He erased the litany of gashes marring his body with a quick swipe of his hands. Taking calming breaths, he raised his hood, taking refuge in the shade it provided. Then he clicked his tongue.
"What's the matter?" Kenpachi called, casually resting his Zanpakuto on his shoulder as if his opponent hadn't just twisted the very fabric of space. "I thought you weren't going to use your hands. Was I stronger than you expected?" He laughed, a raspy howl.
Gremmy found himself laughing alongside him. It was true, of course. He'd underestimated the man dubbed Kenpachi. And he'd paid for it in blood and pride. It was worth the cost.
"I realized something," he said, stretching his fingers. "I haven't been taking this as seriously as I should. The fact that I thought to test you in the first place is proof enough of that. But I think I'm done taking it easy now."
"That's what I like to hear."
Power swelled within Gremmy. He hardly ever had to draw in Reishi from his surroundings. It wasn't an essential function for most Quincy powerful enough to possess a Schrift, and less so for him specifically, but now he drew upon the power of the Soul Society.
Blinding blue-white light enveloped him. The surge of power that accompanied it sent a tingling sensation through his arms and legs. He was the most powerful Quincy, and yet this was his first experience actually attempting Vollständig. He'd always been cautioned not to try lest he become too powerful and his Schrift go berserk.
Another example of his potential being limited. Perhaps when this was all over, he'd show the Quincy leaders just how mighty he could be.
The light faded. Gremmy glanced to the side and met his own gaze. Another him stood within arm's reach. Not an illusion or inferior clone. An honest to goodness second Gremmy. A second body to make use of his limitless power.
I hope you're ready, strongest Shinigami, they thought, because you're in my world now. Gremmy raised their hands and conjured up the single most destructive force they could imagine.
The sky transformed. Where there was once a sea of blue, there was now an ocean of deep red. Clouds did not simply disperse, they burned, as a tremendous heat appeared in the atmosphere.
They imagined an asteroid, easily the size of the Seireitei itself, plummeting from on high. The air it passed through caught fire, and there was a distinct shift in pressure that made Gremmy's ears pop.
Pure. Indiscriminate. Destruction.
This was true power.
This was proof that Gremmy Thoumeaux was the most powerful being in existence!
+ Shift +
Kenpachi stared into the blood red sky and marveled at the power plunging towards the earth. It was easily the single most destructive force he'd ever seen face to face. If that thing made contact-possibly even before-it would wipe out everything, no question.
He felt like a child receiving a gift for the first time. Smiling ear to ear, he took off, leaping to meet that incredible force of nature.
The heat and pressure of the thing tore at his body. It tried to push and pull him apart and cook him alive at the same time. But he wasn't so weak as to be pushed around by a big rock. He was theKenpachi! The true Kenpachi. Nobody and nothing was stronger than he was.
He reeled back, feeling Nozarashi's weight, tremendous potential energy in the palm of his hand, hanging just behind him. His muscles fired in a glorious sequence, pulling all of that energy to bear against the impending doom falling from the sky. The blade connected with the surface in defiance of the chaotic atmosphere that was trying to sweep him away.
Bits of space rock broke away easily, and a crack at least three times longer than Kenpachi was tall snaked its way across the pock-marked surface. The meteor pushed back with the inevitable power of nature. He dug in his heels as well as he could in the air and tried to drive his blade deeper.
But his wrist buckled. Nozarashi came loose and the raging, molten winds slammed into him from all sides. He was pushed right into the falling meteor. Kenpachi tumbled, his entire body shrieking in pain.
He hit the ground and stopped dead, creating a large crater where he touched down. His head pounded, and one of his arms wasn't moving properly. Not his sword arm, fortunately. He moved to push himself up, but a seething pain denied him. All he could really do was growl at the meteor bearing down on him.
"Well? What do you think, Kenpachi? Isn't it glorious?" He heard a voice, or rather, he heard two voices overlapping. That Quincy kid casually strode around the lip of the crater. Both of him. "This is the strength of The Visionary. My strength. The strength of the strongest."
Kenpachi rolled his eyes. The fight wasn't over until one of them was dead. There was no other way for a battle between the strongest.
"My creation will destroy everything, you know. The Seireitei, first and foremost, but that devastation will spread. The shockwave alone will carry far out into the wilds beyond the Rukongai. I wouldn't be surprised if it even affected the living world in some way." One Gremmy looked up, marveling at the approaching doom, the other smiled down at Kenpachi. "Everyone and everything will die. Except for me, of course. I don't think my own creation could kill me." He laughed. It was a good laugh, admittedly; one fueled by mirth that could only be attained through sheer strength.
Kenpachi ground his teeth and tried again to stand. He got a little farther this time, pushing through the pain, but his injuries were just too severe. He'd have to find another way out of this hole.
Uh-oh! You're not looking so good, Ken-chan. He heard a familiar voice. Searching around with just his eyes, he finally caught sight of her, sliding down the rim of the crater. Yachiru had returned. Sorry, sorry! I think I should have been able to keep you in better condition, but I messed up.
"And where have you been? I was looking all over for you."
Oh, I've been around. Her face hovered just above his as she smiled. More importantly, Ken-chan, we have to do something about that big rock.
"You're telling me. I didn't hit it hard enough the first time."
Yachiru scratched her chin. She wasn't much better suited to problem solving than he was. How about we try that?
"That?"
Yeah! You know, that! Kenpachi tried to cock his head, but his neck didn't want to move where he told it to. What was she going on about? Oh, come one, Ken-chan. It's obvious! We should try Bankai, silly!
"Ban . . . kai?"
+ Shift +
Ken-chan transformed.
His Reiatsu-normally tucked away in the deepest depths of his soul-was fully unleashed for the first time since . . . Yachiru didn't really know when. It had always been there, on the edge of her awareness, but as long as she'd been with him, Ken-chan hadn't ever been able to go all out.
His body pulsed with a power that leveled nearby structures as it emerged. His skin turned a deep shade of red and a pair of horns sprouted from his forehead. His eyes glazed over, turning a milky white, and he began to growl like an animal.
He turned over, ignoring his broken bones and torn muscles. Such trivial injuries wouldn't stop him from fighting as long as Yachiru could help it. Crouching, he hefted his newly transformed blade, Yachiru. Well, Nozarashi, but she'd always been Yachiru to Ken-chan, so, even now that she knew her name, she still preferred Yachiru.
Anyways! Her new form was super cute! All jagged and chipped, just like Ken-chan! If he was a battle hardened devil, then she was the weapon who'd seen him through hell. No other blade fit Ken-chan as well as she did. No, siree!
Altogether, this was the truest Ken-chan ever. Yachiru puffed out her chest and let out a haughty laugh. It was a shame there was nobody else around to admire her handiwork. Ken-chan growled in response. He was eager to go.
Yachiru leaped onto his back and wrapped her arms around his neck. He couldn't think beyond the fight in this form, so she'd have to steer him. She pointed up at the big burning rock and cheered, Let's go, Ken-chan!
The crater tripled in size-at least-when Ken-chan pushed off into the air. His legs flapped wildly, trailing behind his body. They looked like empty sacks blowing in the wind.
Sorry, Ken-chan! I'm not used to keeping you together just yet, but I'll get there! For now, leave it to me. You focus on beating up that overgrown boulder, okay? Ken-chan roared as they sliced through the air, making it to the meteor's surface in seconds.
The muscles in his sword arm fired. He wanted to swing, but the amount of power that wanted to escape would probably blow his own body apart. That was no good! But, then again, so was holding him back now that he was unchained. Yachiru did her best to find a middle ground. Don't worry, Ken-chan! I'll keep you from completely falling apart, so give it your all! You can do it!
He reared back, and the muscles and tendons attaching his arm to his body began to snap and split. His skin tore and his bones started to stick out, but Yachiru held him together as best she could. His arm didn't even blur. One moment it was pulled back over his head. The next moment it was hanging down by his feet.
A clean cut halved the massive space rock. Then, millions upon millions of tiny cracks surged through the cores of both halves. And then even more cracks split off from those cracks!
The meteor shattered with a gut-twisting snap. The explosion blasted Ken-chan back towards the ground. It also flattened a large portion of the Seireitei, Yachiru noticed as they fell. The impact did a ton of damage to Ken-chan, breaking even more bones and bruising almost all of his muscles, but Yachiru wasn't worried. Those kinds of superficial wounds were nothing compared to the sheer pressure of Ken-chan's power trying to escape. A broken body was no problem at all!
There wasn't much connective tissue left in his arms and legs, so it took a lot more work, but Yachiru managed to get him back onto his feet. Seeing him so fragile was heartbreaking, she had to admit, but she knew he wouldn't have it any other way.
The fight was still on!
+ Shift +
For the first time in his life, Gremmy Thoumeaux's mind was blank. His Vollständig collapsed, his other self fading away.
It happened so quickly. So decisively! The deepest wells of his imagination should have been unstoppable, but he'd never before considered that so much power could be contained in a single vessel.
He'd have to finish the fight with that man. No . . . that monster. He couldn't run away from this. How could anyone run away from that?! The contest was over, Gremmy was not the strongest by a margin wider than the cosmos, but he had an inkling that the Kenpachi wouldn't accept his surrender.
The blood red beast staggered to his feet, despite his legs barely being attached to his body anymore. His sword arm hung so far off his torso that his knuckles almost scraped the dirt. He collapsed again before he could take a single step, but even that wasn't enough. Using his one good arm, he pulled himself along the ground, his frighteningly white eyes fixed on Gremmy.
The strongest Quincy's heart nearly beat out of his chest. Cold sweat soaked into his jacket and dripped from his nose. It wasn't possible for such a destroyed person to pose any sort of threat, but Gremmy's mind couldn't discount the power threatening to erase him.
He couldn't fight this thing . . . could he? What would he even do? Conjure up a copy of the Kenpachi, maybe? Who else better to fight the strongest being in the universe than that same indescribably powerful beast? He tried to think of it; Kenpachi versus Kenpachi, a true clash of the strongest.
But no. No matter how drastically he suspended his disbelief, he couldn't imagine any creation of his standing a chance. Gremmy couldn't properly grasp the true depths of this Shinigami's strength no matter how hard he tried.
He tried again, imagining something, anything, that could save him from his impending doom at the hands of this demon.
His mind kept returning to the same image. The Kenpachi, standing twenty feet tall, red skin glowing from within, stared down with hungry eyes His jaw opened wide enough to swallow Gremmy in one go. The saliva dripping from that unnatural maw splattered onto the ground, sizzling as it dissolved the rocks. The monster growled, a noise that sounded like the sadistic laughter of the devil himself.
Gremmy screamed, completely impotent. His arms and legs were useless. His mind was frail. Something like this-burning with fury and bloodlust-would surely burn him away just by being there.
It started at his fingertips. Bit by bit, his body started to crumble. He was being consumed by a strength he could just barely imagine, and he knew that the real thing would be even more incredible. Another scream escaped his throat, but he actually felt relieved.
His own power was betraying him, making the hypothetical, yet still inevitable, defeat at the hands of the Kenpachi into a reality. This was his fate, no matter what, so he was thankful in the end.
The Visionary couldn't stand up to the overwhelming Kenpachi, but it could at least save Gremmy the horror of having to experience that reality shattering power himself.
+ Shift +
Yachiru tilted her head as the bad guy just kind of evaporated. It was a huge letdown, but somehow, she got the impression that Ken-chan was satisfied. He'd overcome the enemy's strongest attack, so the battle was as good as won.
Letting the defeated Quincy off the hook like that wasn't completely out of character for Ken-chan, but in this state, she would have expected him to be frustrated that he didn't get to seize victory with his own two hands. Well, one good hand, at least.
He stopped, went silent, and just sat there for a bit. Yachiru tried to get him to move, but he didn't budge. She understood his feelings; the fight was over, he didn't need to go all out for now, but in all honesty, she really wanted to keep going.
They'd always been together, even when they didn't know who they really were, so Yachiru had fought side by side with Ken-chan thousands of times. This was the first time, though, that they really fought as one. She didn't want it to end.
She eventually relented, however, and poured her focus into stitching his body back together. She couldn't make it perfect-that was not her thing-but she could at least make sure his limbs stayed attached. Everything after that would be up to him.
Sighing, Yachiru dismounted, and Ken-chan returned to normal. He collapsed, unconscious, immediately. She knelt down next to him and patted his head.
Make sure to call me again soon, okay, Ken-chan?
Until next time.
+ Break +
Yhwach opened his eyes and glimpsed infinity.
The universe as a whole was laid bare before him. It spread out over a horizon that didn't exist. It flowed both impossibly quickly and painfully slowly, and it didn't move at all. It expanded, contracted, twisted, and rolled.
He saw the past unfurling into the present and on into the future, everything happening in distinct moments that occurred at the same time. He saw the furthest expanses of the cosmos and the flickering of the tiniest particles.
He was experiencing the Soul King, the lynchpin holding the universe together.
And it was driving him mad.
He tried to close his eyes, only to realize that he didn't have eyes. He had no form in his current state with which to turn away. He couldn't run from the unfathomable majesty, no matter how terrified he was.
This was what awaited him? Part of him understood that it would not be so mind numbing once he actually ascended, but to see all of this now, with the perspective and comprehension of a mortal man . . . It almost made him want to abandon his purpose. He'd rather die than face this terrible everything.
An awareness crept into his mind and threatened to wipe away his sense of self. It was a beginning. A beginning he knew. It was also an end, giving way to another beginning. Over and over and over and all at once!
Yhwach vanished in that infinite experience and all that remained was the lynchpin. All of it. Each individual experiencing every other individual as one. No one was distinct. Past, present, and future held no meaning here.
Suddenly, a sharp agony reverberated through the endlessness. A portion of the everything-infinitesimal, yet grand-was sheared away. The pain was so acute that Yhwach's awareness snapped back into place. That awareness felt like a curse.
He burned. An indefinable part of him screamed like a fresh wound exposed to the air. But even that pain felt insignificant in the face of what came next.
The universe shifted. The change was imperceptible; he couldn't identify what kind of transformation had occurred, but he got the clear impression that the universe as he saw it now was completely different from what it was before.
A more ominous awareness came over him just as the vast infinity faded from his vision.
+ Shift +
Yhwach awoke sprawled on the ground. His entire body was drenched in cold sweat and an echo of that searing pain plagued him. It was a detached pain, not directly connected to his body, but it was there. He grit his teeth, but still his body convulsed and writhed.
Ukitake was beside him in a similar state. His limbs flailed and he gasped for breath, the same as Yhwach. It was a wonder he could withstand such agony with that frail body of his.
The only words that passed between them were grunts and whimpers.
After what felt like hours, the pain subsided, and Yhwach rose on shaky legs. He suspected that the memory of that pain would haunt him. Judging by the expression on Ukitake's gaunt face, he was feeling the same. Their eyes met, and Yhwach knew he was right.
He also knew that the Shinigami shared his feelings on this most recent vision.
There was simply too much to unpack. Eternity was not something mere souls could understand or interpret. In all likelihood, only the Soul King itself could truly grasp the scope and meaning.
In order to understand the universe, they would have to become one with it. Yhwach understood that at least. And so did Ukitake.
Yhwach's breath caught as he realized what had just transpired between him and the Captain. They looked at each other, horrified. He hadn't just assumed the other man's feelings. He'd known them, as if they were his own.
The Soul King's arms, those ancient fragments of power, were pulling them closer together.
It was almost time.