To Forge A Better Tomorrow Chapter 91:The Long Twilight Struggle P2, a bleach fanfic

Okay, starting things off, this is chapter is gonna be on the longer side- at least for me!

As has long been my custom, I'd like to give a shout-out to Ie-maru and RG-Guest for their feedback on the previous chapter. Next, I'd like to touch upon some of the key points made in RG-Guest's review: Starting off on a lighter note, it wasn't my intent to imply that Toshiro and Rangiku were actively lusting after each other, but rather that both were more keenly aware of the other- that there's this simmering undercurrent of attraction.

Moving on, I enjoyed fleshing out the various relationship dynamics- such as Shunsui and Nanao, the growing friendship between Grimmjow and Onigiri, and the reminder that Lisa has had prior interactions with Hiroshi, and so on... As for the continued lack of mentions of Ichigo, it honestly hadn't occurred to me that it would keep coming across that the others were ignoring his existence. It's more they're just really preoccupied with everything else going on.

TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW

Chapter XCI:
"The Long Twilight Struggle, Part 2"

Soul Society...
Division Four, Medical Center...

The tall, silver-haired woman looked over the information displayed on the monitor. At present, Isane was busy coordinating with the other members of the Division.

She nodded to herself as she reviewed the data. "Okay, all stationed are go- the shelters and triage locations are ready." Isane murmured as she scanned the data. "The stocks of medical supplies check out, our trained medics and healing specialists are in their place."

"It all checks out." The Lieutenant continued. "The internal status of both the Division and the Medical Center check out, so it looks like we're ready to go."

"Officer Yamada," she started, turning to face the young officer. "With that said," Isane went on to say as she addressed him. "What can you report on the status of the exterior?"

Hanataro nodded. "A combined task force, composed of the Sternritters and our own Shinigami troops were dispatched and have established a defense parameter." The dark-haired Soul Reaper informed the female Officer before him. "Beyond that, the Barrier Corp created a special form of shielding that can be brought up to serve as a fail-safe... should their lines break."

Isane gave a thoughtful look. "I understand." She replied. "I'll need to report in to Central Command and update them on our situation." The woman calmly spoke. "So, can I then entrust you with making sure that we are kept abreast of the situation outside as it unfolds?"

Hanataro nodded smartly. "Yes, of course."

"And now, as for the rest," she went on as he exited the scene. "We need to make sure that everything is clear on the other ends- that Sungsun-san and Abe-san are aptly prepared."

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

In An Unknown Location...

"Aside from the forces being deployed from this end, as well as the members of the Brethren that are deployed in the fields," Darkwood went on to explain. "The Great Machine makes it possible for me to focus my powers in order to create 'doubles' of myself- as a means of spreading confusion."

"Doubles?" Ichigo repeated, as all the disparate elements of the Great Machine continuously moved behind him as he turned to face the other man. "What exactly do you mean?"

"As I said, I'm a high priority target." The black-clad man stated. "So as soon as my 'Doubles' start to appear across the battlefields, multiple conflicting reports will start coming in as they invariably create confusion amongst the ranks of our adversaries as they try to come to grips with this."

The teen nodded. "I suppose that makes sense." Ichigo conceded. "But still, just how effective can we expect these 'duplicates' to be?" He asked him. "How much can we rely on them?"

The bearded man smirked. "That depends." He replied. "First off, it depends on how much confusion we can create through using the doubles," Darkwood went on. "And second, on how long it takes them to realize what's happening, and how long it takes them to mobilize a sufficient response."

"I think that I'm truly starting to better understand you, and I also understand- if only a little- where you're coming from." Ichigo responded. "After all, in the end, the way I see it is that the real winner is the one who takes the greatest risks and plays for the highest stakes."

Darkwood smiled, nodding. "You're wiser than you realize, my boy." He replied. "The same as how I know you well enough by now, to see that you're beginning to understand the greater picture."

"Don't forget," the bearded man calmly continued. "Perhaps our greatest asset is the sheer versatility and adaptability of our forces." He offered him. "We don't die in the same sense as those now standing against us, we learn with every encounter, we adapt and ultimately return stronger for it."

The teen nodded thoughtfully. "Still, I have to say," Ichigo began coolly. "That you're being awfully philosophical in talking about what's essentially amounts to an invasion."

Darkwood gave a slight chuckle at this. "Not an invasion," he wryly stated. "Rather, a migration."

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Huecco Mundo...
Division Fourteen HQ...

Nelliel-Tu Obberschank was alerted to the arrival of an incoming message, causing the green-haired Espada to turn and make her way over to the com-station.

"Captain, we picked up another communique from the front." The Shinigami relayed to her, as he went about 'piping in' the transmission. "This pretty much live- We're receiving it right now..."

"Yo Nell!" A familiar voice barked over the line, the woman in question blushing faintly at the overly familiar tone, while doing her best not to acknowledge the glances from her Officers. "We just sent the techies back, and we're getting into position to fight these bastards!"

"Looks like things are kicking off!" The Sexta Espada declared. "We're moving to interce-"

"Grimmjow?!" Nelliel exclaimed, panic bleeding into her expression.

"Captain!" A new voice called out.

Just as abruptly as the transmission cut out, a Shinigami burst into the room. "We've received word that our forces have regrouped at the main parameter, and are engaging the enemy!"

"Right, make sure the reinforcements from Soul Society are in position!" She responded, as everyone around her set to work. "In the mean time, connect me to Central Command."

With that said, she took the com. "Gotei Central Command, do you read me?" the Arrancar announced over the line. "This is the Fourteenth Division, do you read me?"

There was a brief crackle of static, before a screen lit up. "Acknowledged, Fourteenth, this is Captain Kyoraku, we're reviving you." The swordsman replied. "What's your status?"

She took a deep breath. "As of now... Our forces are engaging the enemy."

"Understood." The scruffy Soul Reaper responded calmly. "It's the same situation on our end, as well as in the Living Realm." Shunsui continued. "This is it... I want it to be known I have full confidence in both you and your Division, and in the forces we've sent to assist you."

There was a brief pause...

"Other than that," he resumed. "The only thing I have left to tell you... is good luck."

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

The Ukitake Family Estate...

Above them, the branches of the numerous trees swayed and shifted in the wind, all the while as the birds set off with a flutter of wings from the branches above them!

"As of now," the white-haired Captain started, looking over to the tall Espada. "Retsu has taken our son, Kiyoshiro-chan, down into the depths of the 'inner sanctum' of the Estate, along with Mitsuki-san and the rest of our entourage and the other members of the household."

"Yes, of course." Stark replied, now in his Resurreccion. "But, what of the greater circumstances?"

The Shinigami looked to the brown-haired Espada, nodding. "Truthfully, the simple fact of the matter is that the two of us will be responsible for defending the grounds of the Estate."

Stark nodded at this. "Right... I understand." The Primera Espada replied, before moving to wrack the slides of his twined pair of pistols. "Regardless, you can count on us to support you."

Jushiro smiled, even as they heard a commotion in the distance!

"It sounds like whatever's happening out there," the Captain observed. "...Is getting closer."

"Yeah." Stark stepped forward. "I don't think it'll be much longer."

Much as they'd hypothesized, it wasn't that long until the noises seemed to have reached the point just outside of the heavy defensive walls that formed the larger parameter around the Estate.

What they weren't expecting was the arrival of a particular pair of the shadowy figures- one of them looking like a dark reflection of the white-haired Soul Reaper and Swordsman, while the taller of the two wraiths mirrored the figure and form of the Espada and gunman!

"What the hell's going on?!" Stark exclaimed, exchanging a quick look with the other man.

The Captain's brown eyes went wide. "My god, they've changed yet again!" Jushiro exclaimed, as he looked on at the nondescript 'features' of the figure in front of him. "This- this change, somehow they're evolving, and almost certainly as a direct reaction to us..."

"It is... uncanny." Stark offered uneasily as he faced off with his own double. "It's almost as if they're redefining their own evolution." He looked to the Captain. "What now?"

"We can't count on this stand-off to last." Jushiro replied. "Central Command has to know about this, that they reached the point that they've achieved a form of- of mimicry."

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Renji and Arachne were at the head a group of Shinigami from the Sixth Division, making their way across the eerie moonlit desolation of Huecco Mundo...

"Our group is being dispatched to assist Cyrus and his Arrancar." The Lieutenant explained.

"This place..." Arachne uttered under her breath. "I hoped I'd never have to come back here."

"Arachne," Renji reacted, concerned. "Why do you say that?"

"Imagine that you lived in a place like this." She replied pointedly. "There's nothing here, no hope, no future, no beauty... Imagine living in a place like that." Arachne continued. "And then, someone comes into your life- like a whirlwind- and takes you to a better place."

"A place where you can see what it's like to really live for the first time, and you're free to walk in the light of the sun and dream of a better future." The female Arrancar resumed. "So, with all that in mind, can you honestly think of any reason to ever want to return?"

"I... never thought of it that way." The tattooed Shinigami admitted. "But when you put it that way, I could see myself feeling the same way." Renji went on. "Maybe it's because I'm a Shinigami, that I just took certain things for granted..." He paused. "For me, it's a little different, because I met you here."

Arachne blushed, which he took as his cue to continue."I'm glad we met. I enjoy being with you, and I'm also glad you're happy living in the Soul Realm with me, because..."

"Renji?" The dark-haired woman asked.

Just then, something impacted with the ground, knocking everyone off their feet!

"Shadows!" One of the other Shinigami exclaimed.

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Gotei Council Facilities...
Central Operations Command Hub...

"Open a channel," Shunsui started. "I need a direct line to the Eleventh..."

"Captain Kenpachi, come in." He began. "This is Captain Kyoraku, do you read me?"

"Yeah. I hear you just fine." A voice replied, the man's tone audibly irritable.

Shunsui closed his eyes, not needing to see the man to understand how frustrated he was...

"The fighting has just begun." The other Captain resumed. "If we're going to stay on top of thing, we have to control the escalation of our response to the enemy." He continued. "Right now, I can't reiterate enough how important it is that you stick to the plan we've all agreed upon."

"Yeah yeah, I got it." Came the terse reply, before the channel went dead.

The swordsman shook his head. "I've got a bad feeling about this..." He uttered out loud to himself, sharing a quick glances with the others people in the room. "Right now, I don't think we can fully rely on him to stick to the plan." Shunsui paused, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Then again," he went on to add, pausing to exhale. "It's not like we could realistically hope to stop him if something should happen." Shunsui admitted. "And the last thing we need right now is another monster on the loose out there- rampaging across the battlefield."

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Back in Huecco Mundo, the Sexta Espada- now in his Panther-like Release form- scorched through a number of their enemies. Grimmjow paused and looked back to savor the aftermath...

Nearby, some Shinigami Officers had set up a sort of mortar cannon, lighting the fuse and covering their ears as it went off and sent its projectile flying- the explosive flying in an arch and striking down into a group of the Phantoms, obliterating them amid an explosion of sand!

"This... is nuts!" The blue-haired Arrancar exclaimed as he paused, gazing to the horizon, looking at the oncoming hoard in the distance- the numbers appearing to be in thousands!

"Hold the line!" A dark-haired, clean-shaven Shinigami from the Sixth called out. "Everyone, form up," the Eighth-Seat Officer continued, watching intensity as a a number of Soul Reapers formed up in a line, all of them brandishing . "Present weapons!" Yosuke Hayate instructed...

They knelt down and shouldered their modern versions of 16th Century Bo-hiya fire rockets- before firing off incendiary rounds from their portable cannons- causing a wave of explosions!

The man, with his dark hair buzzed on the sides and pulled into a ponytail in the back, was quick to dodge the attack and counter-attacked with one of his own. Producing and a small explosive, he lit the fuse and underhanded it- sending it skimming across the sand and blowing up more enemies!

With that, he turned to Onigiri. "Lieutenant, what's the sit-rep on your end?"

"No change!" The Arrancar replied, swinging a sword into one of the Phantoms.

He left that sword buried in them, drawing another one and throwing it- the curved blade landing deep in another one of the shadow-like attackers. However, by this point, he paused and noted to himself that he had no more swords left- all of the sheaths were empty! He glanced around as numerous Phantoms proceeded to rapidly encircle seemingly unarmed Arrancar...

"And now," he announced. "It's showtime!"

With that said, his posture shifted and he focused his energy, as all of the 'discarded' katanas began to hum with to life- coursing with power and rising up out of their targets.

The bright crimson haired and blue-eyed Arrancar and swordsman remained focused on his present endeavor as he battled their enemies. Having successfully cut down numerous Phantoms in the process of implementing his ultimate technique, Katsuro Onigiri paused and focused his reiki...

"Chanbara Mode!" He exclaimed as he went on.

The eight distinctive katanas, all of them levitating, formed a 'circle' around the crimson-haired man, with the tips of their blades facing outwards. Onigiri then exclaimed "Go!", causing the swords to face sideways and start circling around him in a madcap deadly whirlwind of death- swiftly and effectively cutting down scores of the attackers like so many blades of grass!

Meanwhile, as she was busy fighting off the attackers, she spotted a figure in the distance- dressed in black, with brown hair and a matching beard. "What the...? Who the hell is that?"

"Look!" Another one of the Soul Reapers called out.

Both Grimmjow and Onigiri, along with the rest of their allies, paused to see as a detachment- clad in black robes and armed with various weapons- with none other than Lisa Yadomaru at its head, leading them as they crested down the side of a nearby dune in a haze of dust...

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Division Twelve HQ...

"C- Captain, the systems just registered another spike in the energy originating from the anomaly."

Szayel moved to join the man, seated in front of a bank of instruments. "Officer Akon," he instructed him in a calm manner. "Please elaborate, we're going to need more specific details."

"Y- yes, of course..." He managed. "Just like before, when the first wave of attackers appeared in the realms, there's been another steep rise in the amount of Dark Energy."

"So here we are..." The Arrancar mused. "We'd better alert Central Command about this- if they're not already of aware of it, and bracing for the next attack."

"Wait, Captain." Rin spoke up. "We're receiving a message from Command..."

"What's going on?" Urahara asked, now fully alert.

"I- it's being broadcast on a primary frequency..." Rin replied. "It's a 'general alert'... From what I can understand of it, multiple transmissions are coming in from all three of the realms... It seems there is a lot of conflicting information... But all report sightings of the individual known as Darkwood."

"Dammit!" Urahara exclaimed. "Yet another thing to have to deal with!"

"Kisuke, stay calm." Szayel fired back. "Right now, the important thing, at the moment, is to stay on top of this and monitor how this plays out- what we need right now is information!"

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Renji and his forces had become the target off an ambush by the Shadow forces...

"Man, these guys have some terrible fucking timing!" Arachne exclaimed as she blocked the blade of one of their attackers, before cutting it down- along with a second.

"We can't get bogged down here!" Renji exclaimed as he similarly cut down an attacker.

"Lieutenant, there's a massive concentration northwest of us," another one of the Shinigami, holding a detector, called out to the crimson-haired Soul Reaper. "It looks like it starting to move our way."

"Arachne, I've got an idea." He called out to her as he shouldered the case he'd brought.

"Where the hell are you going?!" The Arrancar exclaimed as he took off running.

"I'm causing a distraction!" He answered over his shoulder. "Come along if you want!"

She appeared beside him. "What are you trying to achieve?"

Renji chuckled. "Look back, they should be following us."

A quick glance confirmed what he'd said. "How did you know they'd do that?"

"Those things are going to prioritize taken the two of us out." The Shinigami responded as they made their way towards a rise in the distance. "We're the strongest, so they'd wanna kill us first."

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

The Living Realm, Karakura City...

Chad arrived to the sight of several Shinigami- scattered and motionless- across the area...

"Are they... dead?" He wondered aloud to himself.

"Don't worry about them," a cheerful voice replied. "I mean, there's no fun in killing them, and that really isn't my style!"

The dark-skinned teen felt a brief chill as he turned to see none other than Jinx. The tattooed woman was lounging on a park bench one leg hitched over the other and both arms wresting on the back.

"I was beginning to wonder when you'd show up." She mock-pouted in a playful tone, before flashing the young an all too familiar seductive smile. "Did you miss me? Because I missed you!" The leather-clad woman went on purr. "I never met anyone who could excite me the way you do."

Chad's posture eased up a bit. "If we're being honest, we can't go on meeting each other like this."

"Oh, don't be like that." She teased. "C'mon, it's always fun when we meet."

"I don't know about you," Chad began with a small smile. "But based on my own experience, I've found all of our previous encounter so far to be needless dangerous."

"Like I said, fun." She quipped back playfully, smiling. "And even you would be hard pressed to say that about all of our 'encounters'." Jinx continued. "I mean, you weren't complaining that one night."

The swarthy youth was thrown, blushing slightly. "Er, yes, well, as you've shown me- personally, I might add!- that you can be very persuasive when you want to be."

"I'll be even more persuasive tonight!" Jinx declared salaciously as she rose to her feet.

"Now," the inked female started. "Time for the foreplay!"

He backed up slightly as she took a step towards him. "You sound eager this evening."

"I'm very excited," the illustrated woman's blueish-green eyes narrowed a bit. "You see, you've seen what my arms can do... But the truth is, that I have a little 'trick' I've been saving for a special occasion, such as today, when I can stop holding back and bare myself to you."

"It's pretty special, and I'm very proud of it," he couldn't help but detect an undercurrent of menace in her voice as she spoke. "So, you can understand that I'm excited at the prospect of finally showing it to you... And besides, I'm hoping that you'll like it just as much as I do."

"But, like I said," she resumed with a clap of her hands. "For now, it's time for the foreplay!"

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Back in Central Command...

"How are the defenses holding up?" Shunsui asked.

"At the moment, our forces have the enemy contained at these points here." Nanao replied coolly as various areas lit up on the holographic display. "As we expected, they seem to be targeting areas of the Seireitei that are known to be places with higher numbers of personnel."

"And what about the Living Realm?" The Captain asked.

"Nowhere near as pitched." One of the Adjutants replied. "So far, our Lines are holding in Karakura."

Shunsui nodded. "And that just leaves us with Huecco Mundo."

"The reinforcements have been deployed to a number of strategic locations." His bespectacled Second Officer replied, while she adjusted said glassed. "Aside from minor skirmishes, we're holding."

"Captain Kyoraku," Ken stated from his post."Multiple sightings of Darkwood are coming in..."

"So far, reports have come in from all three Realms." Ran added. "And in each instance, they all make some mention of either that man, or of someone matching his description."

"At the moment, those reports are nothing more than conjecture." The brown-haired tech responded, swiveling in his chair as he adjusted his glasses. "Right now, what we're dealing with is nothing more than a disinformation campaign being carried out on the part of the enemy!"

"You think I don't know that?" The red-haired female tech countered. "I don't want our people getting dragged into wild goose chases any more than you!" She hastened to add, before then removing one of the pencils that was holding up hair hair to chew on the end of it. "But there's a lot going on, and the risk of not following up on leads also has to be considered as well."

"Alright, both of you!" Shunsui chimed in, holding his hands up. "We're all under a lot of stress, but arguing like this isn't getting us anywhere." He declared diplomatically. "Besides, I want some kind of confirmation on all the chatter we're getting about these supposed 'doppelganger'."

Both of the bespectacled technicians nodded smartly at hearing this, before they turned back to their respective screens once again. "Yes, of course, at once Captain." Ken replied. "Well... So far, the only real piece of information we have to go on is a brief report from the Ukitake Estate."

"To be precise," Ran elaborated, adjusting her own glasses. "One of our agents stationed inside of the residence said they observed the arrival of two particular Phantoms- resembling Lord Ukitake and the Primera Espada." She explained. "We haven't subsequently heard anything."

"But how are they even doing this?" Ken wondered.

"They're learning." Ran answered. "Like any intelligent being, they're learning by experience."

"These things..." Shunsui muttered under his breath. "They just keep on adapting." The disheveled brown-haired Captain mused aloud to himself. "Is it even possible that we'll actually ever see the end of all this madness?" He asked himself. "Do we even have a chance...?"

"Captain," Nanao spoke up, adjusting her glasses. "I've gone ahead and dispatched operatives out onto the fields, with instructions to see if any of the intelligence can be verified."

"As ever," Shunsui remarked. "You're a step ahead of me, my dear Nanao-chan."

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

"This is fucking stupid!" Kenpachi exclaimed angrily. "I'm done with this shit!"

The next thing the other members of the Eleventh knew, the mountain of man that was their Captain was gone, almost bursting forth from the the grounds of the Division!

After this, a number of the Division Members followed suit- exiting the barracks and spreading out across the expanse of the Seireitei, filtering into the growing chaos. In that moment, Yumichika noted that Yoko was amongst the exodus. The flashy, purple-haired man quickly became aware of another presence nearby, and turned see Yachiru standing there, sporting an unfamiliar expression.

Collecting himself, he knelt down. "Lieutenant, it's not safe out there, you'd better stay here."

The girl didn't react immediately. In fact, far from her usual energy and excitement, the girl was oddly subdued and almost somber as she gazed off into the middle distance...

The wind rustled her light pink hair. "This won't be just another fight, will it?" From her tone, it was more of a statement than an actual question. "I can feel it, like there's something in the air..."

Feeling overtaken by a sudden unease, he simply looked uncertainly off into the distance...

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Under the illumination of the silver crescent moon, Captain Sajin Komamura and his troops from the Seventh made their way across the white sands, reaching some old stone ruins- the bone-white masonry almost glowing under the pale glow of the moonlight. They were on the scent of something...

Just then, another figure appeared, colliding head-on with the imposing wolf-like Shinigami!

Stunned, a number of his troops called out."Captain Komamura?!"

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the esteemed wolf himself?" Lenny quipped. Looking on, his smile never wavered as Sajin wasted no time in freeing himself from the rubble.

"Meeting you again, like this, Captain," he began, the wind whipping around him. "To think... why, it almost seems like it was fated to happen this way!"

"What the hell are you playing at, this time?!" The Captain demanded. "I'm sick of these games!"

"No more games, my good wolf." The leather-clad warrior fired back. "This time, I can promise you that it's just going to be the two of us, and that this time is for real!"

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Zhao Shengcai (aka Shenkai) stood at the head of a small force from the Second Division...

Less than a step behind him was Ggio Vega. Both the Shinigami and the Arrancar were sporting their Zanpakuto soul weapons- the "Blue Dragon" and "Tigre Estoque", respectively. They came to a halt in the middle of a street, collecting themselves, and calling for the Com-Officer.

Uryu Ishida stood back and silently observed the unlikely duo and the other Soul Reapers, as they interacted with one another and with his father and the other Quincy present. "It's important that we stay abreast of things as they unfold." Shenkai stated. "We need to correlate information."

"From what you've told me, Lieutenant," Ryuken started. "Based on the degree of activity that you've described to me would appear to match up with what we've observed across the rest of the city."

"We need to contact Central Command." Ggio commented.

"That won't be necessary." Shenkai countered. "I doubt by this point there's any pertinent information that we can offer them that they won' have already worked out themselves."

"He's correct." Ryuken interjected. "The truth of this entire affair is, that no matter how bad things become on our end, it's all but certain to be a diversion from the real front- the Seireitei."

The Black-ops Shinigami regarded the elder Ishida briefly. "I must say, you're being awfully pragmatic, Doctor, given the rather checkered history between our people and yours."

"On the contrary, Officer," the older man countered. "I happen to find that the core of the conflict to be refreshingly simple, particularly when the alternative to it is death."

Uryu had observed the exchange between the Shinigami and his father, without comment...

"Well," Ggio started, smiling awkwardly. "I suppose, the threat of extinction does tend to have that effect."

"So then, if we're to be the diversion," Shenkai resumed. "We'd best make a proper go of it!"

"And just in time, it would seem." Ryuken remarked as they were alerted to a nearby commotion!

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Jushiro Ukitake drew Sōgyo no Kotowari in time to block the attack from his duplicate!

"Stark?!" Jushiro called out to the tall man. "If these creatures- whatever they are- are anything like you or I," the Captain went on to declare, the creature mirroring his movements as he propelled himself into the air above. "We have to make sure to keep them away from the house!"

In that moment, he locked 'eyes' with his Shadow...

He was the same height and the same build, with the same long hair and body-type, and clad in the same type of clothing, while brandishing- for all accounts- a sword that that appeared to be the same general shape and construction as his Zanpakuto... The only real demonstrable difference between him and this other Jushiro was the fact that it was composed of darkness!

Unnervingly, the Captain could discern the basic lines of a face. It was indistinct , yet somehow still recognizable as a face. "It's like fighting with my own shadow..."

For his own part, the brown-haired Arrancar didn't waist any time in drawing his 'pistols' on the being in front of him, narrowing his eyes as he beheld his doppelganger!

"This is crazy..." Stark muttered to himself. "How the hell am I supposed to fight myself?!"

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

"It won't be long now..." Darkwood spoke, looking to the Great Machine. "The power is building up, soon it will be strong enough to realize our ultimate goal."

The two men were standing near the core of the multi-leveled bizarre and otherworldly structure that surrounded the Great Machine, set directly in the heart the endless dark void. Additionally, there were a number of both stationary objects and other bits that moved around the main body.

"You can feel it too, can't you, Ichigo..." He went on, the teen in question standing beside him as the two of them watched as the giant machine moved at slow steady pace. "This Machine, it's slowly but surely coming to life, before our eyes." The bearded man added. "It's at the core of everything."

Ichigo offered no comment, merely observing the movements of the various parts of the giant engine were reflected in his brown eyes. "The power from this, it's... intoxicating." The orange-haired youth spoke, halting as power began to crackled about his hands. "Wait, what is this?"

The black-clad man smirked, giving a slight chuckle. "Why, I'm happy to say it's your Excalibur."

The orange-haired teen closed his eyes and took a slow deep breath...

"Ichigo?" The older man prompted, curiously.

This time, rather than brood, Ichigo smiled, raising his open right hand. "Yes, I'm starting to see it."

Darkwood watched, with interest, as energy began to form in and around his hand- the radiant power slowly beginning to take shape. "So, this is the power of Manifest?"

"Well, it might be more fitting to call it an aspect of it." Darkwood chimed in.

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

The massive Soul Reaper, his one eye obscured behind an eye-patch, stumbled a bit...

By this point, even Zaraki Kenpachi couldn't avoid the inevitably sense of exhaustion that seemed to come with the terrifying myriad of wounds he'd sustained. He paused to catch his breath, while he did his best to ignore the searing pain coursing throughout his battered body!

He'd lost count of just how many times that those dammed Shadows had stabbed and cut into him each time they'd successfully managed to overwhelm him with sheer numbers...

By the same logic, he couldn't begin to count the amount of the bastards that he'd successfully slain as he'd weathered all of the wounds that they had inflicted upon him in the process!

He staggered, dropping down onto one knee, his battered sword now feeling heavy to him. His breath was ragged, both his skin and clothing were stained red with blood. After a moment, looked up, in time to observe as a particularly familiar figure appeared in the distance.

The figure that was heading his way, was uncommonly tall and slender, and more importantly it was reminiscent of another fighter he'd previously encountered...

The Captain's reaction was to smile wildly. "Now... Now, this is more like it!"

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

By comparison to what was happening in Karakura City, both the intensity and presence of the enemy forces were fast becoming more prolific in Huecco Mundo...

Presently, while Grimmjow and his troops were busy engaging the enemy on their front, a number of the allied forces- including some of the dispatched Shinigami Officers and the troops they had brought with them, as well a decent number of their Arrancar Allies had taken position at another front.

They were presently kneeling in a shallow tench, hunkered behind a small natural barrier- formed by piling up the natural sand in the area, and firming it up by packing it with dirt.

The Soul Reapers and the Arrancar were looking across a flat wide-open area. Situated a short distance behind their lines, was a strange vast collective of rock formations to the back of them.

Among those formed up, was Captain Muguruma, flanked by Mashiro Kuna. Aside from her logic-defying flight goggles atop her head of light green hair and the orange bandanna around her neck, his Lieutenant and fellow Vizard wore a set of modified Shinigami robes, over a black version the white bodysuit she'd worn previously- complete with white boots and gloves.

The white-haired man removed the covering of a large switchboard...

"Lieutenant Izuru," he spoke, looking over to the blonde Shinigami. "Make sure that the rest of our lines are ready to go, right now." Kensei instructed him.

Kira nodded. "Y- Yes sir!"

Additionally, Edrad Liones was present in their ranks. Even while kneeling, the Arrancar- with his massive frame- towering over the other individuals situated to either side of him. The Fraccion noted the presence of a number of individuals that he recognized- including a dark-haired male Shinigami in a sleeveless robe, with multiple facial markings and sporting a scowl...

The normally glum Kira made an effort to rally himself, before signaling with his hands, prompting a large number of troops heading directly to their location- followed by them kneeling down and forming up into multiple lines, all of them brandishing weapons of some sort.

"Time to get the first stage of this show ready..." Kensei mused out loud to himself as he went about checking the connections on the wires coming and going from the switchboard, before pressing buttons and flipping switches on the sizable control system. He smirked as three rows of lights lit up!

"Right on time!" He looked back up, smirking. "As of now, we're good to go!"

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Slash intently made his way through the sizable expanse of the Seireitei, feeling inexplicably at piece inside its high walls- despite the chaos unfolding all around him...

"How strange..." He mused to himself. "To be standing here, in this moment in time, in this land that I've never set foot in before, and yet..." Slash trailed off, pausing to savor the moment.

The swordsman scanned the area around him- making note of the odd trail of smoke rising up across the skylines of the Seireitei, before turning his gaze upwards into the blue sky. He closed his eyes as he took everything in, all of the thunderous racket of the ongoing fighting.

"And yet, even as an interloper, this feels so perfect." He finished, bringing himself back to reality.

It was then that he heard a rustling sound behind him, prompting him to whirl around to witness as a Shinigami appeared from around a corner. The arrival of the warrior- his sword in hand- was followed by the appearance of others, resulting in him being surrounded by five armed Shinigami in total.

"And now you've come for me?" Slash started, glancing between them. "Alright then, so be it," he continued as he readied himself. "If you're all so eager to kill me, then come at me!"

One of them made to lunge at him, but Slash responded to with inhuman speed- drawing and slashing across him with own his sword- felling him instantly!

The dread-locked swordsman shifted his stance, blocking and subsequently deflecting the swing of the advancing Shinigami with the blade of his katana. With the opening created, he performed a downward swipe of his sword, cutting into the man and watching him collapse at his feet!

Slash then made his next move, leaping onto the shoulders of one of the others, rebounding off of him and landing on the roof of one of the nearby buildings.

Without looking away from the Soul Reaper that appeared in front of, he turned the blade to face the other way, plunging it into the man who had attempted to swoop in behind him. With that completed, he withdrew the blade from him to counter and kill the man before him...

With that, he jumped off of the roof, bringing his sword down and killing the remaining attacker!

"Is this it?" Slash asked out loud.

With a flick of his wrist, he cast the blood from the blade of his sword... Into the eyes of a Shinigami that only just arrived, this one being the first of another wave of attackers.

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

"We're good to go!"

Shuhei Hisagi looked to the other man. "Captain, I still don't fully understand what's happening."

The white-haired man looked to him. "What's important is that we've prepared sufficiently to control the flow of the fighting to come." Kensei replied. "We've taken steps to ensure that we can force them to attack from positions that are advantageous to us, and this is the pay off!"

He'd gestured to the control board as he'd spoken the last bit.

"Look!" One of the Arrancar members of the Fourteenth called out.

Everyone looked up in time to see what he was gesturing to... A massive horde of Phantoms appeared in the distance and began advancing towards them!

"Everyone, hold your positions!" Kensei instructed. "We have to time this just right..."

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

"So far, all from the Eleventh..." Slash commented as he tossed aside a Shinigami badge. "It seems that my reputation precedes me." The man added as he moved on,venturing out into a clearing.

He instantly came upon a panicked woman, who was clutching her child.

A beat passed between. "Go," Slash spoke. "Take your son, and find somewhere safe."

The swordsman accentuated this with a nod of his head to side. Without further comment, he watched as the woman picked up her child and exited the scene...

"Then you do have a sense of honor?" An unseen voice observed.

"Of course," Slash replied calmly, smirking to himself, not even bothering to turn and face the source of the voice. "I'm a warrior, after all, and warriors don't kill unarmed civilians."

With that, he turned around, seeing a woman now standing before him. She was dressed in the same black kimono and hakama as the men he'd encountered up till now. Her dark hair was drawn up into a high ponytail in the back and her hands and wrists were bound up with cloth wrappings.

He noted that she was holding her sheathed sword in her left hand...

"And what have we here?" Slash remarked with a smile. "A tigress, perhaps?"

"You must be the man known as 'Slash'?" She asked.

He nodded. "And you, she-cat, what's your name?"

Her dark blue eyes narrowed. "Yoko Watase." She answered. "And the reason I'm here, is because you killed my lover- Ikaku Madarame." The tattooed woman declared. "And I will have my revenge!"

Slash nodded at this. "Oh yes, I do recall him." He responded. "I could tell right away that he was a warrior, and while it wasn't my intention that he die, I expect that he would have known full well what he was getting himself into when he chose to cross swords with me."

"And as a warrior yourself," the swordsman went on, hands on his hips. "I should think that you of all people would more than understand that death in battle is a part of our life."

At this, she drew her sword with her right hand, casting aside the sheath, and squared up.

Similarly, Slash pulled the side of his coat away and drew his own sword. "So be it then."

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Meanwhile, in Huecco Mundo...

Making their way to top of the dune, with the Shadows hot on their trail, Renji and Arachne looked out across a sizable stretch of flatland. "Sorry, but could you cover me while I set this up?"

Seemingly resigned to their predicament, Arachne summoned her reiki, unleashing her deadly threads from the tips of her fingers, sending them lashing out and carving up the Phantoms.

As this was going on, Renji had opened up the large case and he'd brought with him, and quickly set about assembling and setting up the device contained within it.

Suddenly, the land beneath was rocked an unseen force!

Renji and Arachne turned to watch as dark energy began to gather and started to materialize before them, gradually taking the form of a multi-limbed creature, several stories in height.

"Omigod, Renji!" Arachne exclaimed. "What the hell is going on?!"

The Soul Reaper's expression soured as the form became more defined. "It can't be..." He murmured under his breath as he moved to activate the device, causing it to begin performing a rapid-fire series of downward piston-like motions into the sands. "Arachne, be ready to run when I say so..."

"What the hell are you doing?" She demanded. "There's a monster right in front of us!"

"Not just any monster." He fired back. "Whatever that is, it's taken the form of Yammy Llargo!"

"The Cero Espada?!" The Arrancar retorted in disbelief. "Then what the hell are we waiting for?"

"This!" He replied simply, gesturing to the machine. "This device is the realization of theory of a late friend of mine." Renji went on to explain to her. "I owe it to him to see if I can prove his theory."

She grabbed hold of him. "And you're saying this theory is worth dying for?!"

"Listen to me, Renji!" Arachne continued urgently. "Dammit! I want to have a future, and I want to spend it together with you!" The female Arrancar implored him.

The sudden, heartfelt declaration from the raven-haired woman was at least enough of a wake-up call for him that he looked to her. "And you think that I don't want that, too?" Renji responded. "I want the same things as you do, Arachne- I want to have a family and grow old together with you!"

"But," he paused. "I have to have faith, not just in this machine, but in my friend!"

At the same time as all of this was going on, the colossal creature had at last fully taken form and was now starting to slowly advance towards them...

"Damn you, Renji..." Arachne cursed in a low tone, while she hurriedly moved to encircle her arms around his own. "Y- You're too good. You've ruined me for other males..." The Arrancar went on to say, visibly blushing. "I- I can't ever settle for an Arrancar, or any other man, not after being with you!"

Nodding, he smiled and took her hand in his as they looked to the oncoming enemy, before her gave the nod to the woman beside him and they began retreating!

All the while, the device continued hitting the ground like a jackhammer...

(- End of Chapter XCI... -)

Only now, close to the end, am I realizing some of the 'mistakes' I made (though your mileage may vary) over the course of this story: One being that I failed to create enough OCs in the wake of thinning the numbers of some of the Divisions... The Eleventh suffered pretty badly from this.

In contrast, the Sixth did alright. I created Shigeru Kimura as someone who could act as a sympathetic ear for Renji. It wasn't until after he opened up to him about himself, that I realized Kimura was in danger of ending up as a trope, so I set out to develop him. And he wound up being so fun to write, that I decided to build up his presence in the story, till I finally 'bite the bullet' and had Ylforte start to flirt with him.

Part of me regrets not establishing Rikichi, but he got lost in the shuffle. Even after I lost around dozen characters, I still struggled to find time to make use of characters who potentially could be alive. I mention him because there isn't that many 'younger' POVs. Which brings me to Hanataro: I needed a younger male Shinigami that could be a foil for Lillynette to play off of and naturally gravitate to over time. And I felt he had the most potential in that regard.

For me, UkiHana ended up being the sweetest, most wholesome couple ever! While I took inspiration for Ggio from NovaAlexandria, I don't regret this because I love writing him as this total sweetheart that Soifon could slowly fall for. And of course, I'm proud of what I've been able to do with UlquiHim, depicting the raw intensity of their relationship- which ends up becoming this sort of crazy whirlwind romance of theirs!