Bleach 528 & 529: The Last Quincy
Scene opens where it left off in soul society.
Ryuken stands facing off against Logain. He stands quite relaxed with his left hand in his pocket and his right hand holding his cigarette.
Logain has a slightly surprised look on his face as he stares at Ryuken.
Logain: So you are Ishida Ryuken, hmph, his majesty speaks highly of you, even if you have chosen to forsake the Quincy.
An arrow explodes into Logain's back making him stumble forward a step.
Ryuken: Lesson 1, Children should not involve themselves in the matters of adults…and lowly Arrancars should know better than to speak of the Quincy in front of me.
Logain: ?!
Logain stares at Ryuken who hasn't moved an inch or even changed his stance. His face however has gone deathly serious.
Logain: (How did he?! He hasn't created a bow or even flinched! How did he get that arrow behind me?!) …So, you noticed I was an Arrancar.
Ryuken takes another long slow drag from his cigarette.
Logain: You realise don't you that you don't stand a chance against me, against any of us.
Ryuken:…
Logain: huh, thanks to his Majesties techniques we have far surpassed you and your archaic way of doing things. We are the new Quincy! You should just die out already "last Quincy"!
Ryuken has a flashback of when he was slightly younger, he stands before his father who is holding out a pentagram medallion
Ishida Souken: You have now inherited all my techniques Ryuken, it is time for you to learn the true history of the Quincy.
Ryuken: ?
Flashback changes to a time slightly further ahead.
Ishida Souken: Always remember the path we have chosen Ryuken and why, honour our choice.
Ryuken: Yes father
Ishida Souken: The right path to tread is never the easiest. The easiest path may bring the quickest rewards but never the most.
Ryuken:…
Ishida Souken: never let the allure or glamour distract you from the truth, last quincy.
Ryuken:?!
The flashback ends as another arrow strikes Logain in the back making him stagger forward.
Logain: argh (there is definitely nobody else here, so how is he shooting me?!)
Ryuken: Lesson 2, children should know better than to preach to their seniors…and they should never fail to learn Lesson 1.
Logain:… I'm gonna-
Ryuken: I have no desire to dirty my hands with you any more than I have to, so you get this one chance. Return the stolen medallion and skulk back to hueco mundo if you wish to live.
Logain:…
Logain suddenly disappears and appears flying 100 yards behind Ryuken. His bow is already formed in his hand and 3 huge arrows are already halfway to striking Ryuken.
The ground beneath Ryuken's feet explodes outward into a cloud of dust. Ryuken goes flying straight up into the air narrowly dodging the arrows, he still has one hand in his pocket whilst he takes a drag from his cig. His movement seems completely effortless.
Logain: ?! I didn't see him move again, so what was that explosion and why did he go flying up into the air...did he shoot an arrow into the ground?!
Ryuken: you can use Hirenkyaku fairly well considering your handicap. I'm quite impressed, If I had to grade you I'd give you a 4.
Logain halts, watching as Ryuken casually falls down headfirst towards the ground, at the last minute Ryuken twists and lands on his feet.
Logain: my handicap? What handicap?!
Ryuken Suddenly appears standing with one foot on Logain's shoulder. The cigarette is in his mouth now and with his right hand he is spinning a de-activated seele Schneider on his index finger.
Ryuken: That you're not a Quincy of course.
Logain:!
Logain vanishes, re-appearing about 50 yards away facing towards Ryuken who lightly drops to the ground.
Ryuken: That one was much scruffier; you get a 2 for that.
Logain: (even though he has not advanced any of his techniques his skills are nothing to be sniffed at, I can't even follow his movements and yet he doesn't even seem to be trying).
Ryuken: decided to take the sensible option yet…?
Logain: Your skills are certainly impressive, though it's my own fault for taking the title of 'last Quincy' so lightly.
Ryuken:…
Logain: I should have realised that there was only one way we could fight here, by the very techniques that you forsook.
Logain grips his medallion and raises his hand high, a beam of light shoots out from the ground, rising high forming a pentagram at the top. Wings grow out of Logains back as his form changes and a pentagram appears over his head like a hat.
Scene changes to Hueco Mundo with Aizen still facing off against Juha Bach.
Joushiro: *Bankai*!
Juha Bach looks in the direction of Joushiro in surprise. An explosion of reitsu spreads out in a circle from Joushiro. The mass of troops surrounding him get blasted back in all directions, even Shunsui gets pushed back with the force of the reiatsu.
As Joushiro straightens up from his fighting stance nothing seems to have changed about his attire. Both his swords look exactly the same apart from two things. They are no longer connected by the rope as they were in Shikai form. Their colour has also changed, one has a black hilt and white blade whilst the other has a black blade and white hilt. Behind him in the air (similar to Hitsugaya's bankai) 9 huge cards (similar to the ones that were linking his swords in shikai form but larger) are floating in the air. They are arrayed like a diamond, 3 in the middle, 2 above and below them, and a single one above and below those.
Juha Bach turns to look at Aizen
Juha Bach: So you think you can stop me from taking his Bankai?
Aizen: Hmmmm, I think I already have. As I see it you have to be stationary to steal it from him and the process may be fast but I doubt its instant.
Juha Bach: …
Aizen: So the question is, if you can't dodge, then do you think your Blut Vene is strong enough to block my attack?
Juha Bach: …and what makes you think that his Bankai can remove a technique that I created to seal Yamamoto himself?
Aizen smiles at Juha Bach as he speaks as if he finds his question extremely funny.
Aizen: Well, as I think it has just been proven, it's not always about power and strength but about having the right counter for your opponent.
Juha Bach:…
Aizen: and in any case, the bankai of Ukitake san has a splendid ability.
Juha Bach: So you know what it is.
Aizen: I've read of it, though it will be my first time seeing Namiutsu umi to ikari no name.
Juha Bach: the rippling sea…and waves of rage…
Aizen: Indeed, in fact I'm very looking forward to seeing it.
Bach tenses and directs his gaze to joushiro once more. Joushiro is running towards Ichigo, all the soldiers near him have been blown away, yet there still remains a good six lines of troops blocking his way to Ichigo. Bach looks back at Aizen.
Juha Bach: Really?! Heh heh, I wonder what it could be?
Aizen:?!
Aizen stares at Bach in confusion for a moment and then a look of surprise crosses his face, he turns to look at Joushirou. Shunsui has blown away the troops blocking the way, Joushiro leaps forward and strikes towards. There is an almighty explosion as everything and everyone in or around the barrier is blown high up into the air. You see Joushiro, unconscious, the highest of them all now falling, his swords slipping out of his hands.
Aizen turns to look once again at Bach who now has a massive grin across his face.
Aizen: So you were just playing the fool and toying with us.
Juha Bach: Namiutsu umi to ikari no name, a Bankai that absorbs any expelled force, be it reiatsu or merely the physical force of a slash, and stores it in one of its 9 Talismans. From which the users reiatsu can be added to increase the power or speed and then released at will. It truly is a splendid ability.
Aizen:…
Juha Bach: and if you wish to look at anyone with those admonishing eyes then maybe look at yourself. You were aware that I knew what his bankai was and yet still you let me lead you into this trap. I don't think you were so naïve in the past Aizen.
Aizen:…
Juha Bach: so, did you have a plan B?
Scene change to soul Society
Logain: Look upon it! The Quincy Volstandig that you chose to reject. The pinnacle of a Quincies ability taken to new heights and yet you chose to reject it just because it was created by his majesty.
Logain disappears again this time appearing right behind Ryuken and grabbing both of his arms just above the wrists and pulling them back and apart so he can't move.
Logain: and now you can't shoot any arrows. Do you see now what you rejected, what we gladly accepted? This is how easy it was to take out the last Quincy and with this you and your antiquated ideals will die out with you.
Ryuken's head is tilted slightly downwards as if he is looking down at the ground. His face looks sad more than anything else. He lets out a long sigh.
Ryuken: …I do not like my elders being spoken ill of, so before the end I'll enlighten you.
Logain:…
Ryuken: Your Quincy Vollstanding wasn't some crowning achievement for the Quincy, it was despicable abomination.
Logain:?
Ryuken: there were two reasons why the Quincies chose to reject your master and this ability, why they were willing to choose even death over joining him.
Logain:?!
Ryuken: The first, though it increases your ability to absorb reiatsu you lose the ability to control it.
Logain: Control it? What are you talking about?
Ryuken: Since you were never a Quincy you'd not know. A Quincy can control what reitsu they take and how much they take. In this way they can ensure they do not cause any harm to any living thing. However your ability, especially Sklaverei, takes every last shred of reitsu from any of the targets around you, completely destroying and eradicating them, this is abhorrent to a Quincy whose mission is to protect.
Logain:…
Ryuken: and the main reason why we rejected your Quincy Vollstanding is because it was a path leading us to weakness and decadence.
Logain: You still say this whilst I hold you at my mercy?!
Ryuken: heh, hard work always triumphs over easy gains boy, didn't you know that. No matter whether it is strength, speed, reflexes, whatever it is, and your ability is just the easy way out.
Logain: huh, as if-
Ryuken: Rule Number 13; a Quincy that requires his hands to fight is not a true Quincy.
Logain:?!
Ryuken kicks out his right leg in front of him and at the same time raises the heel of his left foot higher into the air standing only on the front part of his left foot. A massive bow appears between his feet with an arrow aiming down the middle, the string being pulled back by the toe of the right foot whilst the heel of the left holds against the centre of the bow making it tilt up with it. The arrow fires at Logain's chest at point blank range and explodes covering the area dust. Ryuken appears about 30 or so feet away from it still standing at ease.
As the dust clears you see Logain standing roughly where he was before, his left arm and shoulder are no longer there. His chest is blackened singed from the explosion. He stands there panting looking towards Ryuken.
Ryuken: you managed to move just enough so you didn't take it in the chest, your reaction is impressive.
Logain: How…How can you be this strong without Vollstanding. Even my Blut Vene couldn't stop it!
Ryuken: I've already said it, your Vollstanding is a weakness. Your master, after his failure to unite the Quincy under him, was forced to rebuild the Quincy, but he did not wish to take the time it takes to train them properly. Even if he was willing to do so, there are not many people who have the talent and the mental traits to become a full Quincy. His answer to this was the Vollstanding.
Logain:… I don't-
Ryuken: (sighs) Even amongst all the Quincy in our prime, there were only a few that could attain what is the pinnacle of our abilities. Those that were considered to have the potential to go all the way were presented with the Sanrei glove.
Logain: huh!
Ryuken: It seems you know of that too, but I suppose your master saw it fit to only tell you about the basics of it, right?
Logain:…
Ryuken: The glove is the Quincie's most precious training tool. You may be aware of the first part of the training and what happens if you were to take it off.
Logain: The Letzt Stil
Ryuken: Correct. However, the Letzt Stil was a side effect of taking the glove off early not an ability of it.
Logain: taking it off early?
Ryuken: Yes. The initial stage of the training with the Sanrei glove and the Letzt Still were the only things that the majority of normal Qunicy were told and knew. This was simply because in 95% of cases these were the end results. What they weren't aware of was that there were further stages of training past the initial stage if the user had the skill to advance that far before they were forced to use the Letzt Still.
Logain:…
Ryuken: A Quincy that has mastered the ability to control his reiatsu to such an extent that he is not burned out by the removal of the glove has taken the first step towards reaching the absolute heights of a Quincy.
Logain stands there panting looking at Ryuken for a few seconds. He slowly raises his right arm straight up once more, holding out his pentagram.
Logain: So what, we're the bad little boys because we found an easier way and you're the good little boy who trained harder for longer? It makes no difference! We will still win this war and you will still go to your grave, thanks to this! Bankai! Koko Gonryo Rikyu!
A bolt of lightning bursts out from the medallion and shoots into the sky transforming into a dome of lightning far above his head. A large number of lightning pillars fasten it to the ground. A single pillar reaches from the top of the dome toward the sky which has now significantly darkened.
A bolt of lightning shoots down striking towards Ryuken, as it almost reaches his head it veers sharply, curving down around him to strike the ground at his feet, it travels the ground around him forming a circle. the effect it leaves behind is as if Ryuken has a bubble of lightning surrounding him.
Logain:! How…how is it possible? Not even Sklaveri could absorb reishi fast enough to stop a lightning bolt!
Ryuken raises his hand slighty, palm up, to about chest height, you can see the reishi being absorbed around his hand.
Ryuken: I'm not stopping it.
Logain:?!
Ryuken: Stopping it would take up too much energy and would still cause some damage. However, for someone who has completely mastered the ability to control reishi, diverting it is simple enough.
Logains eyes focus on the electricity continuously swirling around Ryukens feet.
Logain: You…can deflect such powerful reishi? And control it long enough to absorb it?!
Ryuken sighs, he moves his right foot slightly ahead of him. He curls inward the thumb and the two small fingers in his right hand, he tenses his middle and forefinger and pulls them up slightly.
High above logain a gigantic bow appears with an equally large arrow drawn.
Logain: (This is just like bach sama's?!)
Ryuken: You were right earlier about underestimating the title of the ' last Quincy'.
Logain:…please don't-
Ryuken: it does not naively refer to something as merely the last of the Quincy
Logain: I-
Ryuken: it refers to the last true Quincy master left alive in this world!
Ryuken mimics a releasing motion with his fingers and the arrow fires down from the sky, it blasts through the dome and crashes down upon Logain obliterating everything in a blaze of light.
Scene Change to Hueco Mundo
Aizen is still facing off against Juha Bach, the rest of the battlefield seems to be focused on one are which is around Zaraki Kenpachi. You can see no sign of the other two captains.
Aizen: It seems as if I have no other choice but to put my life on the line.
Aizen sheathes his sword.
Bach: ?! I may not understand your intent Aizen, but ask yourself, is there any point? I will fight and defeat Kurosaki Ichigo at my leisure so what purpose does it serve for you die trying to release him.
Aizen smiles as he puts his hands together as if about to pray.
Aizen: You have your plans as I'm sure he has his.
Bach: Hmph, and what of your plans? You feel it is better to align with that boy and reject me?!
Aizen:...Though you may never have known my true motivations for doing what I did, what made you think I would approve of your rule over the soul kings?
Bach:?
A voice can suddenly be heard speaking high above over where Ichigo is trapped. It sounds eerily like Aizens.
Aizen: "Seeping crest of turbidity. Piercing blade, shattering shield. Arrogant vessel of lunacy! Boil forth and deny! Rise and sink, pull and throw!
Bach looks in the direction of the voice in surprise and then back at Aizen. The smiling image of Aizen wavers as if an image in water rippling.
Bach: Are those-!
Bach flies towards the direction of the voice, he brings out his sword as he's flying raising it high above him readying it to strike.
Joushiro suddenly appears in front of him holding out both his swords. His clothes are torn and tattered and he looks pretty roughed up but still capable of fighting. The 9 talismans behind him are all full.
Bach: ?!
Joushiro: You were aware of what my bankai was, you should have been prepared for this!
A gigantic blast fires out of both of his blades and envelops Bach before he even has a chance to stop or change direction.
Aizen's voice can still be heard in the background.
Aizen: Grow numb and flicker! Disrupt sleep! Cower in the Dark, flee from death! Crawling queen of iron! laugh! Cry! Eternally self-destructing doll of mud! Unite! Repulse! Dreams, heavens, earth and air! Fill with soil and know your own powerlessness!
As the torrent of energy continues to be fired of Joushiro's blade you notice that as it goes past the point where Bach was its turning into two split streams on energy.
The streams suddenly merge together once more as Bach appears far above it. His right hand, arm have been completely blackened and trails of blood can be seen going down and dripping of his fingers. His cloak has been completely ripped away.
Bach: Did you really think, even catching me by surprise, that something like that would finish me?!
Joushiro: …No, it was just meant to slow you down.
Bach:?!
Aizen: Let eternity itself be scarred! *Hado 90: Kurohitsugi! , Hado 97: Sekai no dibaida!*
Next week Bleach 530: Allies