A little late, but it is here.
Sorry to say that the edits of this chapter had to be cut since I didn't have the time to properly proofread and fix up the chapter. This is basically what a rough draft looks like, I plan to fix it up this week with my Beta-Reader. But for now I get it to you because I promised you it last week.
So enjoy.
Transcendence
Chapter 61: Broken Soul
It didn't feel right, honestly he didn't know if he should be feeling anything at all during something like this. But for some reason all he could feel is a cold dread take over him, as if something was nearby and watching. His eyes roamed along the street, it was familiar to him but at the same time so dark and distorted that he didn't believe that he was even there.
"What… is going on?"
His words echoed and reverberated, growing in pitch and volume as they bounced around the air. It was a little daunting to hear his own words sent back at him, he narrowed his eyes and tried to take a step.
"Ichigo…"
That voice caused him to stop, whatever it was he did not recognise it. The dark words seemed to come from all directions, yet it did not hold any emotional quality, it sounded robotic yet what he felt was different.
The words passed through him, touching his very being. It felt so wrong that he didn't do anything but stand still, like he was caught in a moment where he didn't know if he should prepare for a fight or get the hell out of dodge.
"Ichigo…"
It was closer this time, the volume may not have changed but the dread seemed to wash over him quicker and in greater potency. He reached for his Zanpakuto and grasped the hilt, drawing from his back he noted the strange lack he felt when he held it. As if it wasn't the same weapon he had always used and relied on.
"Ichigo…"
He twisted around, it was right behind him. He swung hard and struck nothing, his eyes roamed around as he tried to figure out what was happening, something was here with him.
"Ichigo…!"
The words grew louder, but he didn't know where it was coming from. He turned and shifted left and right to search for whatever was hounding him yet nothing was there.
"Ichigo!"
He twisted to the voice one last time and something reached for him, a dark hand grasping his face.
His reaction was quick and instantaneous, he swung forward and his fist connected with a sturdy chin. His eyes were wide and he looked to the attacked, but to his surprise the darkness was gone and all around him was dull green and blue metal. He was staring up towards a domed metal ceiling that looked familiar, but before he could place it he heard a cry.
"Alah'ni! Dor Dath'dieb!"
Ichigo turned to the one that was crying out and swearing at him, finding a swearing Master Thal'darah holding his jaw. Blinking confusedly the young substitute lifted himself up and examined his surroundings and to his surprise found that he was back aboard the Gnomish Submarine.
He found the crew working to keep the ship on course, considering that the vessel was rocking back and forth wildly. But around the deck he found his allies and comrades waiting to arrive at whatever destination was before them.
"What's going on…?" Ichigo asked, very confused as to why he was in the submerged ship right now.
"We are on our way to Maraudon, as soon as we patched you up and sent Caren and Adelina to Nijel's Point we contact Marta to get the Sub up." Iyeana said, stepping forward and looking over the substitute. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah… I guess so." Ichigo replied, flexing his hand and finding that there was no pain.
Odd, he was certain that when he used Bankai he might have been out of commission completely till this entire thing was done and dusted. But he was fit and ready to keep going, at least physically he was.
But there was a nagging feeling in the back of his mind, that strange dream he had a moment ago. It was... terrible, those were the only words he could describe the feeling yet he couldn't recall much about it in all its lucidity.
"Are you sure? You were thrashing quite violently not too long ago, we feared that you had rejected the treatment." Iyeana responded, sounding uncertain if she should trust in his words in this matter.
Ichigo had only just survived the trauma of his Bankai, this being worse than the release he had performed in Dire Maul. They feared that regardless of their treatment that he would survive, but miraculously he seemed to have pulled through.
"Treatment?" Ichigo asked.
"Yes, we used the Sceptre of Light alongside that Brazier Ash to heal you, alongside using several other magical means to put you back together. You would not believe how much of that Ash we had to feed and smother you with." Iyeana replied, noting the ashen grey armour that looked a lot more dull without its usual silver and gold finish.
Ichigo looked at it and found the ash was still clinging to him, he had a sour look on his face as he examined it. This stuff had come from the Centaur, from cut off pieces of flesh and their hides, and they had forced fed it to him as well.
He had seen the effects of the ash and knew that it had incredible healing properties, for a Shinigami or even a normal human the speed in which they healed wounds almost looked like instant regeneration. A bit slower but still it was incredible how potent it could be, healing a slashed throat and even regenerating a lost limb was incredible.
For normal mortals that is, hell even some spirits couldn't claim to have such potent healing ability. Sans for the Arrancar and Hollows, of course.
But still, this was dead centaur skin burnt in a big ornamental fireplace, he was covered in the ash of dead things.
"Thanks… I don't know what to say."
"An apology would be prudent!" Master Thal'darah growled out, still nursing his jaw and glaring at the boy.
"Oh, sorry, I kind of attack people when I wake up." Was Ichigo's half-hearted reply, the delivery was less than sincere and his attention seemed to be somewhere else.
Thal'darah only huffed and began to mutter under his breath as he walked off, likely cursing him in his native tongue. Ichigo could pick out a few words he knew to be curses, and others that he was certain were a lot more colourful. Thankfully he had gotten Adelina to teach him a few of their curses so he knew when someone was insulting him, although she seemed a little embarrassed to do it.
Caren thought it was childish of him. Saying that he should not let the words of others wound his pride or be taken so seriously. Kind of hypocritical in her case because as soon as she said that he pointed out she has anger issues whenever someone mentions how dainty or unfit she is, as expected, she blew up in his face about it.
"Ichigo, are you well?" Iyeana asked, kneeling beside him and resting a hand on his pauldron.
Ichigo looked to her and found her expression a grim one, her eyes narrowed and her lips pressed tightly in a single line. He knew that was not going to let it go unless he admitted up to something, Iyeana was someone with a good eye that could pick out little ticks people had. Ichigo may not be very discrete with his emotions or how he expresses himself but he was daunted with how quick she could pick up on his moods.
'Considering I have no idea what I am so stressed about.' Ichigo mused, unwilling to voice the thought and give Iyeana real reason to be worried.
He had no idea what his dream was about, what he could recall was too vivid to properly interpret and it was like a bad dream. He was awake and away from it all yet that strange sensation put him on edge, he knew what he felt and that he was somehow in his Inner World. But it was distorted, like he couldn't reach it.
"Just a nightmare, the stress must have gotten to me." Ichigo replied, deciding to keep it light.
Iyeana narrowed her eyes some more, it was obvious she was not pleased with the answer and instead of saying anything she got up and moved off. Ichigo wanted to sigh, he knew that she was not happy about him blowing off her concern like that. He may have done it to spare her worrying along with anyone else, but she expected some honesty from him when it comes to her troops. As much as Ichigo was against the idea, he was a member of her forces and technically one of her soldiers.
Rising to his feet, feeling his bones crack and pop back into place he let out a content sigh as he felt everything working perfectly. Although he would like to find a wet rag to wipe some of this crap off himself, being covered in the remains of something dead is not exactly a pleasant feeling. Think of being covered in dirt, you feel dirty and unclean, but it is so much worse when it is a dead thing.
"I am glad you are awake." Codexia said, strolling up behind the substitute. "You had been unconscious for some times, and with that thrashing we feared the worst."
"Yeah, don't know what happened, it felt like a nightmare I guess." Ichigo replied, scratching the back of his head and deciding to ignore it. "Hey, how is Caren? Iyeana said that she is back in Nijel's Point."
"She is well, we gave her the same ash as you. Adelina is overlooking her while we take the Heart back to Maraudon and stop this elemental Invasion." Codexia replied, turning up to the command bridge to see the officers working hard to keep the ship on a horizontal axis.
"What about the storm?" Ichigo asked, recalling that Caren had altered the Obelisk to attack elementals now.
"The obelisk had been rendered harmless, that attack from Mildreas had damaged it too badly to be used again. But without the Heart it shut down, no longer having the power to function, and the storms are gone with it." Codexia stated, for that Ichigo was thankful. "But from what we heard before we departed the elementals have all but been eradicated from the Desolace. But ever since the Obelisk went offline they began to pour from the Mountain again."
"So getting in that way is a no go then?" Ichigo asked.
"Correct." Codexia replied. "We go in the same way Marta took Sylerian and his troops in, it is shorter and hopefully filled with less resistance, from there we work out way to the main chamber and summon Cavindra there from Nijel's Point."
That sounded like a good plan, hopefully Caren would be up to the task after that little injury she got.
"When can expect to get there?" Ichigo asked.
"Soon, and then we can end this whole thing once and for all." Codexia replied, sounding relieved.
"Not really, still got to broker a damn peace between the Night Elves and the rest of the Highborne, that is going to be a pain in the ass." Ichigo replied, that was the damn truth.
Shandris and her people held a great amount of animosity towards the Highborne for what happened ten thousand years ago. The way she had spoken of it showed that she had no problem exterminating these people, in fact he was certain she hated them more than the orcs. With the orcs she was offering them a chance to withdraw, but here? She was not going to give any quarter.
"That may be an issue." Codexia relented, knowing fully well that such a thing was likely going to happen.
"No kidding." Ichigo replied, likely he would need to live up to that promise he made to Mordent when this was all over. Hopefully Shandris will listen to him and he doesn't need to threaten them with fighting for the Highborne when the time comes.
He may have earned the respect of Shandris and her troops but there are elements here that may not take kindly to his actions. From what Iyeana had warned him of that there were still clashes amongst the ranks of the Kaldorei about mingling with outside races.
So doing this might be cause for some political problems in the future, especially if he cannot resolve it with words alone.
A sudden lurch told him that they were no longer in the churning waters, in fact they seemed to be picking up speed and smoothly riding the waters now.
"Alright people, we are in one of the underground channels leading into the mountain!" Marta called out from above, leaning over the railing while also standing on a box. "We should be there in a minute or two, get ready to disembark, after that you will need to get back to the surface on your own."
"Understood, we will see you again when we make it out." Iyeana called back, nodding towards the gnomish Captain before she turned towards the High Shaman. "Are you and your warriors ready?"
A nod was her only response, he lifted up his massive hammer and with a wave of his arm he marshalled his forces in an orderly manner. All stood before the exit hatch, while Iyeana made a similar gesture, her forces mobilized and were already in formation – Ichigo noted the swiftness of it and almost wondered if she was trying to look better than the Shaman right now. Mairne thought so as well, instead of a sneer or glare he merely looked at the Sentinel in a sly manner.
Not another word left the mouths of the occupants as they waited for the Captain to dock and then let them depart. That didn't come for another ten minutes, and just like the time invading Ethel Rethor only twenty four hours ago not a word was said.
Eventually they heard and saw the water outside the ship begin to recede, they had arrived. The door hiss opened and the pressure equalized, before the Captain could bid them farewell they were already charging out the door and into the unknown.
Ichigo watched as Mairne and his warriors moved out first, charging out one at a time before Iyeana and her Sentinels ran out after them. Ichigo was next, charging out last and grabbing the handle for his Zanpakuto as he leaped clear of the Submarine.
His eyes roamed left to right as he looked over their landing site, as expected they met resistance. Elementals and oddly enough some Satyr's, ignoring that he dropped down and swung hard, carving through the arms of an elemental that was going to crush a Sentinel. Rolling forward and into a run he impaled a demon through the chest before ripping the blade free and slicing through one of the elemental's arms.
'Kind of weird how cutting through the elementals is easier than these demons.' Ichigo mused calmly, eyes shifting and keeping his senses out for an attack. 'Maybe it is because their spiritual, would make sense, stronger spiritual power trumps weaker spiritual power.'
Casting aside these thoughts he turned and cut an elemental in half, its body slid apart in two mostly even pieces as its body crumbled. A stab and stomp he broke the bracers and moved on, attacking the enemy wherever they were and moving forward.
It seemed everyone was intent on putting some distance between themselves and the enemy, they were all charging through the enemy and not sticking around. Ichigo could hear Mairne and Iyeana shouting off orders, confirming what he saw. They were blowing through what was between them and the vault and not worrying about anything else.
Ichigo decided to take the lead, rushing ahead and slashing into the demons and elementals as they came his way. Behind him the rest followed, slowly creating a formation that best served to keep them defended and alive. Sentinels were in the middle with most of the druids and spellcasters, while around their perimeter were those that preferred close quarters.
In the middle was Mairne, on his back a large package that he could only surmise to being the Heart of Veles. He was their mule and they needed to get him to the vault safely, luckily they seemed to doing a bang up job of that.
Quickly they reached found a path up the waterfall and onto the greater expanse of the cavern, finding it just as tightly packed with enemies as below. They were hoping for minor opposition while going through here, doesn't seem to be the case.
"There are a lot of them up here!" Ichigo yelled, swinging Zangetsu forward and cutting through a golem's arm.
"There is a lot behind us as well!" Iyeana called back, raising her bow up and striking a Satyr in the chest.
"Move forward, push past them! We do not need to fight them all!" Mairne called, raising his hammer and bathing it in winds before punching it forward.
It sailed past the fighters and blew away their opposition, with a bit of the way open for them they rushed forward. Hacking through the enemies as best they could, few were lost but every single one that fell made their job harder. Fel fire rained down from on high, elementals charged in from the sides, and even more nefarious things were coming in through the cracks in the walls.
"Hydra!" Someone yelled, some eyes turned to look at the three headed reptilian that loomed over the elementals and demons by a good measure.
"It's too close!" A Sentinel called out, turning and firing at the beast as it lumbered towards them.
Soon it was on them and their formation was broken, everything broke down from there as they fought to survive. Ichigo looked around quickly, hacking into inanimate and organic enemies quickly as they closed in from all sides. Yet despite these overwhelming numbers their main issue was the Hydra, the massive bastard was all but murdering their fighters and needed to be taken out.
"It got the Hydra! Keep going!" Ichigo yelled, charging in and appearing at its side.
He swung hard and lopped off its front leg, a roar of pain escaped its mouth along with a torrent of blood from the stump. Ichigo leaped back, quickly drawing its attention as he lured it from the main group he kept the thing from murdering and devouring anyone else.
"Come on! Fresh meat over here!" Ichigo yelled, using Shunpo to evade one of the heads as it tried to devour him whole.
He continued he retreat before coming to a stop, turning he faced the thing head on and let it lunge at him. The middle head shot forward with jaws wide open and ready to swallow him whole, Ichigo leaped to the side and raised Zangetsu to take the head off. However the creature didn't seem to be as dumb as he perceived it, for the right head lunged at Ichigo and tried to make up for the failure of the middle.
He swung around and bashed it off course, scowling when he noted that the damn thing's scales were actually quite resilient to his weapon's edge. But he had no time to register this development when he noticed the third head coming down from above him. Leaping back he decided that he might need a new plan to take out these guys, if they swarmed him like that then he would eventually get swallowed.
'And getting out of that things stomach is not something I want to try.'
As the heads reared up to attack again he scanned his surroundings to see if he could use something to his advantage. His gaze passed over a rock formation, just a smooth boulder of considerable size with an incline.
Seeing that he had an idea, he had no idea if it would work but considering he was still testing a few things out with his abilities it might actually work. Still the rest of the plan before that is going to be the tricky part, considering he had only seen the Hydra do what it did once.
"Eh, screw it. I fix it if things go wrong." Ichigo sighed aloud, charging in as the centre head lunged.
Ducking to the side he already had Zangetsu in motion, aiming for the folds along the scales and planning to bury the blade between them. He was successful, the zanpakuto sunk into soft flesh and was currently lodged there. But even so he was counting on it.
When the second head attacked he used Shunpo to go backwards a few steps, when the thing flew forward and past him he looked up and over towards the third. He wasn't disappointed to see it coming right for him, smirking he stepped to the right and avoided the head before rushing forward. He looked down at the cloth in hand, he clenched it tightly and jumped on top of the first scaly appendage.
Leaping over the long scaly necks of the hydra's he landed on the other sides before he used Shunpo to gain some distance, then came back the same way. Dropping low he used the momentum of the Flash Step to slide under the three rising head, pulling the cloth with him as he went. But when he caught sight of Zangetsu, he snatched his hand out and grasped the hilt, pulling it free and sliding free from under the mythical beast.
Pulling it tight he ripped the cloth attached to the back of his blade into his other hand, holding both cords tightly before running around and towards the back of the Hydra. Using Flash Step he was at the base of that inclined rock he noticed a few moments ago, stepped onto the incline and took a deep breath.
'Here goes nothing.'
With that thought he used Flash Step and sped forward without a destination in mind, he shot up the incline fast and was quickly pulled out of the Shunpo by the cloth wrapped around his arm. He hissed when he felt them pull on his arm uncomfortably, almost as if he was about to dislocate his arm or even lose it. Yet he ignored it and as he was suspected in the air turned back towards his opponent.
His little gamble and trick had paid off, the Hydra heads all were tightly packed together and immobilized around the neck. Just the kind of target he needed, and that was when he drew Zangetsu back and poured his spiritual power into the blade. With a small utterance he released the Getsuga Tenshou towards the trapped Hydra.
Where his blades edge did little to cut through their scales his spiritually sharp wave did not have the same difficulty, all three heads came off cleanly. Smirking he twisted in the air and landed in a crouch, rising up he shouldered Zangetsu looked over across the field of enemies before him.
The hydra had kept them away, but now that the beast was dead they wanted to have a crack at him. His eyes roamed the massive chasm and found his allies moving to a ridge and cave near the far wall to his right. That was definitely the path to the Vault, and where he needed to go. His eyes scanned between there and where he was and he found another little inclined rock that he could use.
Taking off into a run he made his way for that rock, cutting through the elementals and Satyrs that got in his way. Clearing a path was tricky, but after a few swing eventually there was a sizable gap where he could flash step past everyone. Reaching the slope he was quick to use Shunpo once more and flying through the air.
Sailing around he found that his trajectory to be a little, because he was about to land in a large ditch beside that ramp. A ditch that was about a hundred foot drop and covered with sharp crystal formations and rocks, so that little deviation was going to kill him good as dead.
Panicking he turned and saw a stalactite and thinking quick he drew his dagger and as he passed it he stabbed into it. The blade dug deep and stayed there, but the same couldn't be said about his grip as he lost hold of it while he passed. Cursing he didn't know what to do before he looked to the cloth still in his other hand and used it, tossing it towards the dagger and willing it to snag the blades handle.
It obeyed, despite the fact it was just a piece of silk it wrapped around the handle and snapped taut when he reached the desired length away. He fell forward and hung precariously over the pit of certain death, he knew that if they saw him now he was going to be a laughing stock.
"Do you require assistance?"
Ichigo turned to find his allies running up the ramp, knocking away opposition as they rushed along. Yet Mairne had noticed him hanging there like a damn ornament being useless, as much as he hated to admit it he did need some help.
"Yeah, could use a push!" Ichigo yelled.
The response was immediate when a gust of wind seemed to come from nowhere and push him back. He was pushed back until he was completely parallel to the stalactite, seeing this he knew what he needed to do. Willing the cord to extend he began to drop, and when it snapped taut he was flying forward and towards the slope.
Letting go he sailed through the air and towards an elemental, which he impaled through the chest and flew right past it. Ichigo drew a new line of cloth from his blade, feet planted in the ground and using both to try and slow his movement. He came very close to the edge of the ramp and falling off into another deep pit, yet he stopped just in time.
Giving only a second to take a deep breath he used Shunpo and shoulder charged the elemental he had left Zangetsu in. The elemental was blown back, its chest already weakened and cracked shattered when Ichigo hit it dead on. Blade free he turned it onto the nearest set of enemies, mostly elementals.
But he didn't have to wait long before he had some support.
"You don't plan anything past attack it and hope for the best do you?" Iyeana called, firing an arrow at a nearby Elemental. The bolt struck its bracer, actually embedding itself into the stone clamp, before it exploded with blast of florescent light.
"It is called improvising! You do it when something pops up out of nowhere and you got no choice!" Ichigo yelled back, swinging left and right before going left again. He took off an arm, then another arm from second elemental, before cutting the first in half. "Why are you complaining for? I got the Hydra and you all a chance to escape!"
"I was talking about you hanging from that stalactite like a limp hanging fruit!" Iyeana replied, notching another arrow and destroying another elemental.
Her arrows glowed with a strange ethereal green, it was obvious she was using magic to reinforce and empower her bolts.
"That was improvising! I was about to fall into a damn bottomless pit and I survived!" Ichigo yelled, back, very irritated that she would be lecturing him right now.
"No! You leaped into that damn pit because you didn't think and you barely saved yourself!" Iyeana replied.
"You don't know that!" Ichigo yelled back, flustered and nonplussed that she would be chewing him out in the middle of a battle. Couldn't she do this after or sometime else, like when they were not fighting for their lives.
"I most certainly do know that!" Iyeana roared back, notching to arrows and firing them both. She struck the two bracers on the wrists of an elemental and immediately shattered them, sending the elemental back to whence it came.
"You do? How the hell did you know? Did you see me on the ramp or something?" Ichigo asked, actually surprised that she had noticed his little screw up.
"Of course not! I just know it is you and that your methods often lead to you getting into situations you need help getting out of!" Iyeana replied, that did not sit well with Ichigo at all. She had made him admit it and now she was showing off she made an assumption and proved that she was right.
"Dammit! Stop making up assumptions about me!" Ichigo yelled at her, swinging hard and shattering an elemental completely in his frustration.
God she is always like this, so particular about how those under her command fight and act. How many times has he gone off and done something that was reckless and it paid off? I mean sure he had gotten caught up in things that were bad and needed help but those were few and far between.
"I mean, look what I did with the Hydra! You're not complaining about that!" Ichigo yelled.
"Because I expected you to do that when I saw it, I wanted you to take it down! What I didn't expect was you to hang precariously over a chasm with no way to get yourself out of it!" Iyeana said.
"I would have figured out a way!" Ichigo yelled, even that sounded weak to his ears.
"Of course, I have total faith in your ability to pull off something miraculous!" Iyeana replied, turning around and firing at their pursuers. Even as she ran backwards her aim was as still true and precise, striking the bracers or the hearts of the Elementals and Satyr's respectfully.
"I call bullshit on that remark!" Ichigo yelled back, leaping forward and cleaving through two elementals with no issue.
"Call it what you want! But knock off this childishness!" Master Thal'darah chided, raising his stave and brushing a group of elementals off the path ahead of them. "To the caves! We can seal the entrance behind us!"
The argument died there as Ichigo held back to protect the rear, with him Codexia and several other orcish and trolls remained to make up the barricade to keep them from advancing. They did their job well, for the short times they needed to protect the entrance. Iyeana and her Sentinels covered their retreat as Thal'darah worked with his Druids to create a powerful and impenetrable barrier.
Soon thick vines and roots covered the caves entrance, leaving the party in darkness but safe from further attacks from demons or elementals. The former issue was rectified easily enough; orbs of light summoned by the druids gave some illumination to the darkness.
"Let's move, we are still a ways away from the Vault." Iyeana ordered, turning from the bark and thick vines barrier.
The rest followed after her, moving through the nexus of caves and tunnels until they found a familiar sight before them. The unique architecture of the vault was distinct, smooth and beautifully carved stone that have survived the ravages of time. Said to have been built by a race of beings, predating even the dragons that have lived on Azeroth for over a hundred millennia, and used to create and contain the Elemental Planes.
Passing through the archway they entered the long hallway, finding the rotting remains of those that had been killed here nearly a week ago had been moved. Blood trails leading out and into the caverns they had come did not offer any comfort. Yet to see the room was empty and not polluted by opposition was a good sign.
"I need scouts to see survey those tunnels, I want to make sure that there is nothing in them that is coming our way." Iyeana ordered, immediately her Sentinels broke off into two groups and rushed down these long curved passageways.
She turned towards Codexia and nodded, the Primalist returned the gesture and moved for a nice spot off to the side. Devoid of blood and other foul rotting things she began to draw some strange sigil on the ground, Ichigo was reminded of the same runes made by Caren. Specifically those written when she summoned allies from Nijel's Point, obviously this was her and Cavindra's way into the Vault.
"Keep those gateways secure, we don't know what will be drawn here by the arcane runes." Iyeana ordered, a command complied with Mairne as he ordered his warriors to defend these points.
Ichigo turned and regarded the two points, along with the hallways that seemed so long that the curve appeared impossible to see as the roof and walls shrunk. He had to wonder how big this complex was, along with who built it considering the height of the roof and the size of some of these instruments.
"These guys could make spiritual dimensions, have to admit, that is pretty powerful." Ichigo mused.
He had seen Los Noche, that place was a massive fortress that protected the dome sphere, within was a vast desert that had ten other fortresses within. He had been in there and see the scope and size of the place, the distance between fortresses was massive, he would even wager that maybe it was bigger than the Seireitei.
But the creation of Los Noche wasn't even comparable to creating separate dimensional realms that can house and imprison spirits. That was a kind of power he had never seen before, made him wonder what else these guys could cook up.
"Indeed, I have never heard of these beings before. Watchers, their names are so obscure and unassuming that one has to wonder how they could be forgotten so easily." Codexia replied, hearing the substitute's words. "The only beings that could possibly know of them are the elementals themselves, for this place was created to imprison them."
"Yeah, I felt some of the power from an Elemental Lord, if this place can contain and even subdue beings that powerful. Than these Watchers are not to be taken lightly." Ichigo replied, although it left the question to where they disappeared to after they did their job.
Did they hop into their spaceships and leave, that would be a laugh. As much as it is stupid for him to say, meeting a bunch of aliens that fall from the sky is something he is doubtful will occur during his stay here.
"We have company." Someone called out, from the slang of the words it was from a troll.
Ichigo turned and moved to look down the hall, finding the path that leads out of Maraudon to be blocked off by a swarm of elementals. He drew Zangetsu and charged in, the rest of the warriors were close behind him, ready to do what they need to do.
Codexia kept up her work, ignoring the combat that was escalating around her. For the last ten minutes she fought off the rising din of battle to complete the summoning circle beneath her, it was not easy to recall every single intricate detail that needed to be sketched out.
Caren had told her exactly what she needed to inscribe, but that did not make it any the more easier to put that into practice. This circle required a lot of work to make, and required precision that forced her to stay within parameters that couldn't be deviated even by a hairs breadth. If she placed something somewhere wrong it would fail, not fail in that it just wouldn't work but fail that the backlash of energies released from the circle when activated could destroy the entire chamber.
"Enemies coming from down the halls!"
She did not look up, but was certain that there were enemy combatants coming from the winding halls that circled through the mountain. Ignoring all distractions she continued her work, looking over the circle and the intricately drawn runes and lines. She could make out no faults but there were still several missing pieces that needed to be filled in.
Even over the roaring of people fighting and dying around her she did not falter, she kept focused and did not let her emotions get in the way. This had to be done and she would not fall short in such an important moment.
With the final flick of the chalk she was done, the circle was complete and ready to be put to use. Pulling out a vial from her pouch she raised it up and poured it onto the edge of the circle, the blue liquid touched the white chalk and turned it purple. Then the colour spread through the rest of the symbol, in a heartbeat the entire design as aglow with arcane energy.
"The Circle is ready!" Codexia called out.
"Make sure they bring reinforcements!" Iyeana called back.
Codexia did not reply, instead she slammed her hand into the rim of the summoning circle and mentally called for Caren. The response was nearly instantaneous, a portal formed above the runic circle and people poured forth. Sentinels and Druids in great number jumped through, even Meredras leaped through and aided them.
Adelina and Caren jumped through last, with Cavindra between the two of them.
"Do you have the Heart?" The Dryad asked, before she was directed towards the plinth in the centre of the room.
There stood Mairne, holding the Heart of Veles aloft and waiting for instructions on how to install the artefacts. Cavindra moved towards the tauren and quickly relieved him of the artefact, placing it upon the plinth and began her work. Summoning up several magical seals she began to interact with the blank screen before the plinth.
"I will need some time, keep this things away!" Cavindra called out.
"You got it!" Caren replied, turning and going to the nearest point of entry and helped defend it.
"Codexia, with me." Mairne ordered, turning to grasp his maul and rushing for the opposite hall.
The elementals were becoming more ferocious, they knew of the Heart and would not allow it to seal them away back into the earthly depths they escaped from. They hoped that Cavindra was quick, otherwise they would be the ones to be buried and then the world would be the next fall.
Ichigo ducked under the fist and lopped off the arm, taking care to aim for the bracer. With it shattered he leaped back and away from the second fist, before he swung forward and shattered the second one. The elemental collapsed into a pile or pebbles.
But its kin were quick to stamp over its body, charging in to get their hands on the substitute. Ichigo was forced to give ground to stay out of their reach, he was not going to risk a limb or his head being anywhere near them if he could help it. From what he had seen with those he was fighting with these elementals were not to be taken lightly.
Dumb lumbering rocks they may be, but those dumb rocks can crush bones and torsos with no effort. Considering that behind all these rampaging elementals were about half a dozen poor sods that had been dealt a cruel and merciless death he was keen on staying alive.
"How much longer?" Ichigo called out, ducking away and swinging forward as he retreated. He was able to shatter a bracer but as that Elemental reeled back in surprise the others converged and protected their vulnerable kin.
These things were packed into the hallway, like a tsunami of rock that would crush you. Ichigo wouldn't normally risk a Getsuga in a place like this but he was being left with no choice at the moment.
Raising his blade he baths it in spiritual power and then unleashes it, the wave of energy washes over the elementals in a wave of force. Ichigo was careful as he released it, unwilling to risk it being a tightly condensed arc of energy. If it was less solid than it should wash over the elementals and carry them out, or at least overwhelm their own spiritual power to banish them.
It seemed to work, the hall was mostly devoid of the elementals, although a few survived the strike they were a lot less than what was originally in here. Raising Zangetsu he got ready for them, although he was less than pleased to see that through the doorway at the end of the hall more were turning up. Another wave coming in the wake of the tide that he had blown apart, they didn't have much time left.
"How much longer?" Ichigo called out. "I got a lot of damn elementals coming out of my ass over here!"
"Not much longer! I am nearly finished!" Cavindra called out.
"Hurry! We don't have much time!" Iyeana yelled in response, Ichigo risked a glance backward and saw they were on their last legs.
The elementals weren't going down without a fight, they had the numbers and no matter how many Ichigo or anyone else took down they kept coming. Already they were being pushed into the chamber and forced to crowd around the device that held the Heart of Veles. They were fighting for their lives at this point, because as of right now that was the only think helping keep the Heart safe.
"Hurry up!" Ichigo yelled.
"I… Done!" Cavindra cried, slamming her palm into the control panel and immediately it flared with power.
The entire room was lit up with runes of power, emblazoned on every surface and pulsing with energy as they awakened. Almost immediately from the Heart there was a wave of pressure that shot out; Ichigo felt it keenly as reaitsu – the spiritual pressure of a soul. He turned towards the heart and found it flaring with power once more, it was releasing a lot of damn power and it was permeating the entire room.
Then the elementals were broken apart, their bands shattering and their bodies crumbling to dust along with them. Then the energy shot off down the halls, flaring more runes and likely creating a powerful spiritual current that moved around the entire facility and creating a ring of pressure.
'So is that how it works?' Ichigo thought, the Heart uses its spiritual pressure to counter the pressure released from Theradras and the Elemental Planes? That would take a lot of power.
He stepped forward and over the dust covered floor, looking at the remains of the elementals that had been crushed into dust. That was a relief, it meant they only had to clean up the mess outside the mountain now and everything would be squared.
Iyeana was already looking over their wounded; casualties had been high and only a handful of the force they came in with survived. Not to mention that their reinforcements were mostly gone as well, swallowed under the tide of elementals, had they not come more would have died.
"Are we good?" Ichigo asked, looking to Cavindra for confirmation.
"Yes, the Vault is activated. It should seal the breach that is being created and then…"
Her words died a cruel horrible death that left every single person in the chamber to despair at its loss and the twisted way it had been murdered. The pressure from the Heart spluttered and died, before the ancient runes along every flat surface began to fade away.
Ichigo could even feel the power from the Heart subside and weaken, its power had decreased by a marginal amount.
"Oh, don't tell me." Ichigo said, glaring at the Heart.
"No." Cavindra said, moving over to the control panel and attempted to restart the machine. Yet no matter what she did the power from the machine did not draw from the Heart, everything was silent as they realized that their only chance of stopping this was now defunct.
"What happened?" Iyeana asked.
"The thing is drained. I can sense is spiritual pressure and it is spent, I can barely feel its power anymore." Ichigo said, scowling as he looked at the chunk of stone that now was as useful as the dust that now littered the floor.
When it was being drained by the Obelisk and with those damn Highborne siphoning power from it they must have weakened it. This was bad, actually that didn't quite sound right, they were completely and utterly screwed right now.
"Anyone got any other ideas?" Ichigo asked.
"This was our only chance, there is nothing else we can do." Codexia said, sounding terrified as she looked ready to have a breakdown. "We failed, everything is going to be destroyed."
"Calm down, isn't there some kind of spell that can fix this? Make something up and jury-rig the fucking thing!" Ichigo said, actually turning to the respective group of mages, druids and shamans present.
Yet they all offered nothing to his question, instead they remained silent for a few short moments. It was after those few peaceful seconds that they began to descend into chaos, each group handled this differently.
The trolls and orcs were being highly aggravated about this, casting blame and vulgarity towards anyone in their presence. Some towards the Shaman that led them here and the majority of the hostility went towards the Sentinels, seeing it as their fault. If only for being ancestrally tied to the kin that brought about this chaos.
While the Sentinels were a regimental group and not prone to letting their emotions get the better of them, it couldn't be helped that they grew just as vicious and angry as the orcs. Blame was not given, but general racial bigotry was thrown at the trolls and orcs in equal measure.
Things were breaking down, the loss of their singular hope of saving themselves and their entire world had just gone out the window. They were terrified and with no other options left they fell into their more instinctual survival skills, which was almost akin to survival of the fittest.
Ichigo tried to shout at them to keep quiet, make them focus on the problem and not get caught up in some stupid fight. He could understand getting worked up and thinking that everything was over when their plan fails, but there had to be another solution that could fix this. Obviously this machine was designed to operate independently from a power source, and that this breach into the Elemental Planes was not just happening at random.
"Hey! Cavindra! Did this Veles guy ever tell you anything about how to fix this if it went wrong?" Ichigo asked, she was the only person who knew how to work this technology and also install the Heart.
So it was logical to assume that if there were any glitches or issues she would be able to fix it. But when he saw her shrug helplessly and seemed to sink into despair, believing that the Heart was their only option to stop the breach from spreading.
"There has to be a way." Caren said, looking over the machine and trying to get it to work. "How do you work this thing? Give me some time and I might be able to make it work."
"It took me years to learns even the most basic of controls, this machine is beyond anything I have ever seen and any of us! It will take too long!" Cavindra said.
"We don't have a choice!" Caren replied, and so too did she and the Dryad descended into an verbal brawl.
Ichigo shook his head and massaged his temples to try and stop the mindgrain from coming on, he couldn't believe these people were coming apart like this. Only with the help of Iyeana, Mairne and Meredras seemed to be keeping everyone from descending into an absolute brawl. But that would fall apart soon enough if they didn't stop the fighting entirely.
Ichigo was tempted to release his spiritual pressure and force them to stop but then he sensed a sudden influx of spiritual pressure and energy. Turning he looked to the heart, finding it beating with an almost organic quality that dispersed a fine green mist. While it may appear as weakened and drained as before Ichigo noticed that there was a change in its essence, it was powering up for something.
Then without warning it shot off and down through the hall and doorway leading deeper into Maraudon.
"Shit!" Ichigo yelled, watching it disappear from sight. "The Heart!"
His shout roused the attention of some, who looked on surprised and bewildered to find the Heart gone. But it would have been a momentary distraction had the sudden disappearance of the Heart not been followed with the churning of stone rock just outside the Vault. The argument died down quickly as all ears turned their attention to the archway leading into the depths of the mountain.
There was a deep growl of stone and something else that almost sounded like a strange beast's heckle. Then the thundering footfalls were heard, following by a groaning sound as stone dragged along stone.
Everyone had their weapons at the ready and waited, it was coming their way and they did not doubt it but it was still out of sight. That changed quickly when a looming shadow obscured the entire doorway and something pushed its way inside, shattering the arch to fit through.
It lumbered forward, body still trying to form itself and at least appear symmetrical and whole. Eventually it loomed over the entire main chamber, its body massive in height and bulk and in spite of its jagged and patchy appearance it resembled a tauren in shape and characteristics.
He fell onto its front arms, thick limbs that made the trunk of a full grown oak look puny and thin. It's head turned from person to person, letting out a very low growl that sounded like stone grating together.
"What the hell is that?" Caren said, stepping back slowly.
"An elemental obviously, get ready." Iyeana said, drawing her bow and getting ready to take this thing down.
"No, stop." Ichigo said, raising his hand and sheathing Zangetsu.
He looked up at the Elemental, narrowing his eyes as he let his other senses tell him what he needed to know about this being.
"You Veles?" Ichigo asked.
"I am…" The Elemental rumbled, staring at the Shinigami with the scrutiny of a mountain. "You are different than the other fleshlings… more powerful than all others here… very strange you are…"
"Yeah, I get that a lot." Ichigo replied, crossing his arms and looking up at the Elemental. "What happened? Did you lose all your power trying to seal the breach again?"
"You are correct… my power has been drained… I no longer have the strength to hold her back… or her Dark Master…" Veles replied, shaking his massive head he looked to the warriors before him and then settled on Cavindra. "I am sorry… that these years have been wasted… your vigilance I commend… but it is over now…"
That was utterly depressing to hear, that even the very thing that kept this entire event at bay for a thousand years was giving up. Ichigo however was no so quick to throw in the towel, he had an idea and while it was simple and stupid in its own way he thought it was the best.
But someone else had that very same thought.
"Maybe not great spirit!" Codexia said, stepping forward and presenting herself to the Primal Spirit. "If we pool our powers we can marshal what forces we have left and confront Princess Theradras deep within the mountain, if we slay her we can end this!"
The spirit looked to her, examining her head to toe. Even looking to the symbol emblazoned on her shoulderguard, an intricate runic circle with uniquely coloured jewels upon its surface. But even so his face took on a grimace.
"No." Veles replied, words harsh and possessing a gravelly sternness that he had no previously when speaking. "You are unworthy to wield my power."
Codexia was taken aback for a moment, but she quickly collected herself and made another swing at gaining the Elemental spirits aid.
"Please, the circumstances here are dire and we must do something to preserve it." Codexia said, even Mairne stepped forward and attempted to give reason.
"She is correct, I am one for tradition and staying to the old ways but now we must forgo pleasantries and see to the task at hand." The High Shaman said, but he was cast down by a growl from the Primal Spirit of Earth.
"Enough, none of you have proven your worth to wield my might. While Druantia and Thetis submit to the whims of Erebus I will not." Veles said. "I will not give away my power and use it as part of a schematic to see his plans brought to fruition."
Codexia did not know what he meant by that, what did he mean give his power away? Did Druantia and Thetis not see her as worthy to using their powers? Had she not proven herself worthy of wielding their power in the acts she had performed and the deeds she had undertaken?
"I don't understand, I have done everything the spirits have asked of me, how can I not be worthy?" Codexia asked, and for that question she was seized by the elemental.
Lifted up and held tightly in its massive fist, so tight was its hold that she struggled to take in a breath. The rest were quick to react, drawing weapons and preparing to defend themselves from the volatile Earth Spirit.
"Put her down!" Iyeana called, yet she was ignored.
"Service is what we do not require… we require dedication to the cause…!" Veles replied. "Willingness to put aside one's own personal needs and desires… to fulfil a task greater than themselves…!"
Codexia could not reply, only fight to breath.
"You sought only to fulfil your own desire, a reason for being! Held in no small part because of Erebus!" Veles replied.
"I… did what I… thought was right… I… was… wrong…!" Codexia replied, fighting for each word to be uttered.
"You did what you were instructed to do… followed a path he set you on… this is not your destiny girl… just a puppet to one who cared not to sleep beneath the earth anymore…" Veles replied. "Why do you do this? Tell me!"
Codexia fought hard to reply.
"I… wish too…"
"Do not recite those words to me!" Veles roared back. "I am not moves by words or by past tragedy! I do not see a woman who overcame her past but ran from it! Choosing this path only to fulfil her own whims and to make herself content!"
Codexia could barely breathe.
"I… only wanted… to help…"
"Not us, not the Spirits, you were used! Before you even took up this path you were manipulated and taken by the darkness and in fear you did not look beyond it but let it take you!" Veles shouted.
"Please… stop…" She didn't know how but he was dragging these painful memories from her, digging through her past and summoning up thoughts she tried hard to keep down.
"Oi." Ichigo said, aiming Zangetsu at the Elemental. "Drop her or I drop you."
"Stay your hand!" Veles rumbled, turning to Codexia once more. "Tell me why you go through this? What desire made you commit all these heinous and amoral acts? What is it that was so worth the misery and chaos your wrought that was worth to you girl?"
Codexia let out a cry, one that almost made her feel like she was that young girl again trapped in Duskwood. Alone and scared and unable to do anything as these foul shadowy men chased her, intend on doing horrible things to her like they did her mother and father.
"Please… I just want it to stop…"
"It will never end. If you believe that doing this will earn you fulfilment than you are mistaken! It will only make the pain and darkness stronger!" Veles remarked. "Instead of courage you have become more naïve, where you seek tranquillity you only drown in your own indecisiveness in continuing forward. Should I give you my power, then you would never gain the stability you seek, only becoming a stubborn child unwilling to accept where her roots lie!"
Codexia went limp for a moment, some feared she may have finally expired. Yet it was not true, she trembled in his grip as sobs escaped from her throat. Everyone was puzzled, not only from the barrage from the spirit but how the Primalist had reacted to it. There was obviously some sort of deep emotional and personal dialogue going on between the two that only they understood.
"I wanted it to stop… I have nothing… nothing!" Codexia said, tears in her eyes as she looked at the spirits. It was as if she was begging for him to understand and help her. "I don't anything else, this is the only thing in my life that makes sense and can help me fulfil myself! Without it I am nothing!"
"You were with nothing when your master found you, just a broken girl with no past and a future that had no prospects. It was you who took us his mantle and it was you who sought us out not to finish his work but to give yourself a purpose." Veles replied, expression still tight and scolding. "Yet that desire was always guided by that shadow that tagged along with you since you were a child."
Codexia had always known the presence of Erebus, ever since she could remember he had been there and whispered to her. It had helped her, guided her and gave her the focus to find what she desired and wanted. To fill the void in her life that tormented her, she could not reclaim her past but she could find fulfilment in her future if she did as her master instructed.
He spoke so much of the spirits, of how they filled people with wisdom and wholeness that it gave them a greater outlook and perspective of life and existence that it elevated them. She wanted that, to be part of something that made her whole once more, to let this darkness that was her past be extinguished by the promise of a great and bright future.
"I thought… I thought I could get everything back. That I could be happy and that if I finish my masters work that I can finally feel how I use to feel!" Codexia wailed. "But I don't even know what I felt like! I don't know my name before I was called Codexia! I don't know my parent's faces! I know nothing of where I come from! All I know is that I am a Primalist and that it is all that matters!"
Veles dropped the girl, as she fell Ichigo was quick to leap in and catch her. He put her to the ground and let her vent, it was the best he could do right now. He had no idea what to make of what she was saying, there was some deep personal issue going on right now and he had no way of helping her.
"A Primalist is more than just someone bound to duty and doing what must be done, it is personal experience and philosophy that make them willing to go beyond their mortal coils to safeguard the world." Veles said. "For a Primalist does not seek the elements for power, for it requires personal sacrifice and empathy to all things to do what they must do. For their acts must be greater than themselves, beyond personal gain and pride. You forgot that and cause more strife than you intended to prevent."
Codexia did not reply thought the whole things, instead she continued to sulk and let the tears fall as she tried to not break down from the chaos that was throwing her mind in turmoil.
Around her the occupants watched the dialogue with varying levels of interest, but none chose to interfere. What had been done seemed to have come to its conclusion, leaving the once mighty and sly Primalist humbled beyond measure beneath the Primal Spirit she served.
Ichigo watched as Codexia wept, he did not understand fully what she was going through but knew that it involved the very reason she was who she was right now. Her life had not been a pleasant one, she had suffered through it and been forced into an existence governed by others.
"She's suffered enough." Ichigo said, turning to Iyeana and looking her in the eye with a tired gaze. "Take her out of here, along with everyone else. Get them to safety."
"What are you planning?" Iyeana asked, narrowing her eyes in worry as she noticed the way the substitute was acting. He had a plan in mind and that involved a great deal of worry coming her way in the next few seconds.
"Oi Veles, if we defeat Princess Theradras can we stop this?" Ichigo asked, looking up at the Primal Spirit. "If we kill her will the Breach be sealed?"
"No." Veles replied, and when Ichigo scowled and look ready to hit something out of frustration the Spirit continued. "But with her Heart that can change things."
Ichigo looked up, regarding the spirit and wanting an answer.
"Claim her heart and cleanse it, with that this Vault can be powered and completely seal the Breach to the Elemental Planes. You have all that you need to do so." Veles replied, looking to Ichigo. "Druantia has already gifted that, I can sense her power within you and it stirs within your heart and through your blade."
Ichigo regarded his Zanpakuto for a moment, narrowing his eyes and thinking back to when he last met Druantia and spoke with her. He recalled she had made some alterations to him, even stating that she brought some things out within him that would be of use later on. He wondered if she had been planning on this moment, if she knew what was coming and intended for it.
It didn't matter if she did, that was then and he had problems to deal with in the now.
"Alright, so I beat the shit out of her and claim her heart. Bring it here and toss it into the machine right?" Ichigo asked.
"As simple as you word it." Veles replied, nodding its massive bovine head to the substitute.
Ichigo was sold, he had a plan and all he needed to do was make sure he was ready for it.
"Hey, how long will that ash work for me?" Ichigo asked, turning to Iyeana for the response.
"You don't intend to use Bankai again do you?" The Sentinel commander asked.
"I do. If Theradras is as powerful as I am sensing I am going to need all the power I can get to take her down, and Bankai is what I need." Ichigo replied. "I am doing as you said and thinking ahead, will the ash keep me alive while I use it?"
Iyeana only looked at the Shinigami as if he was mad, like he did not understand that if he did what he did again he would certainly die. He barely survived the treatment they gave him with the Sceptre of Thetis and the Ash, if he used that power again on his recently healed body the consequences might kill him instantly.
"I don't know, but you are going to need all of it." Iyeana said, tossing him the bag with some begrudging worry.
She knew that talking him out of this was not going to be possible, he had set him mind to this and nothing she said would change it. He would go through with it whether he had her blessing or condemnation, so it was best she helped him the best she could.
"Thal'darah! Sareth'na! Place healing sigils upon him and see if you can give him something help boost the power of the ash." Iyeana ordered, looking towards the two druids who complied quickly and moved towards the substitute.
Ichigo picked up the pouch and tied it to his waist before he let the two druids get to work, enchanting his armour with magical properties and tried to gift him with great magical healing. More than that Mairne had stepped forward and was doing something to Zangetsu, having asked the substitute to hold it out so it could be enchanted.
"Why are you doing this?" Caren shouted, looking at Ichigo with one of her patented 'Are you Crazy' looks. "You can't go down there alone!"
"I have to, enough people have died out here to get that Heart and it ended with us failing." Ichigo replied. "I have the power to get to Theradras and put her down, I am not going to let anyone else die down here while I have the power to go it alone and end this."
"What if you fail?" Caren said.
"I won't." Ichigo responded, withdrawing his blade and examining the strange tribal runes upon his blade. They glowed with a white hot energy, but he gave them no mind, instead turning to the two druids that seem to be growing plants over his body.
He looked to see some vines moving over his skin and along his armour, small roots penetrating into his skin and pulsing with energy. Ichigo turned and regarded Thal'darah for a moment, hoping for an explanation.
"The roots will keep your muscles from tearing as best they can, even with the ash your body will be wounded. This will at least keep it together for it to heal quickly, let us hope it will be enough." The Master Druid replied, clasping a hand on the substitutes shoulder and giving a nod.
"Thank you." Ichigo said, without saying anymore he turned and moved for the doorway.
"You intend to go about this hopeless mission, certain you will come back." Veles said.
"Yeah, I will be coming back. I intend to come back here so I can rub it in Caren's face. Make Iyeana stop worrying about me every time I run off to do something recklessly stupid. I plan on coming back to make sure that the Highborne don't get wiped out when I fix everything. Along with getting Codexia back on her feet and smacking some sense into her." Ichigo replied, not looking back when he said it.
"But, you can do what is needed her, use your power to seal the Breach and halt this catastrophe." Veles countered, this had actually caused the substitute to stop mid-step.
"Then what? Wait for something to come along and take me out of it and start this mess all over again and with me so drained of power that I can't do anything about it? I don't want to delay the inevitable, or let others take the risk and face the danger when they have already suffered enough." Ichigo replied, he continued to walk forward. "Even if I took your place all I would be doing is prolonging this chaos and letting more people die as they try to fix it and free me. I am not going to do that."
He reached the doorway.
"He Who Protect, that is what my name means. I liked by it since the day I was born, and no matter how many people I can and cannot protect I will fight to protect them all." Ichigo said, passing through the threshold but stopped quickly. "Adelina."
The young Druid was surprised, she had actually moved to speak and say something but he had sensed her words and was already giving a reply. He turned to her, giving a small smile that was both cocky and reassuring at the same time.
"Don't worry, I'll be alright. So don't say goodbye or be careful. I will be back to say hello again before long. So just wait a little while alright?" Ichigo said, smile never leaving his lips as he turned and moved into the darkness.
He would come back to them all, they were his comrades and friends and nothing would get in his way to returning to them. He fought for them now, there was nothing down here that could stop him from saving them and everyone else in the Desolace.
Reviews:
Kragh50: Thanks. Ichigo has always been hesitant in using his Hollow powers; he didn't use them at first when fighting against Grimmjow and even hesitated when using them against Dordonni. He has expressed an aversion to using it likely because of the Old Man. The Mask is something of a dark empowerment for him, he doesn't use it because he knows what it makes himself and others feel. He saw the look of dread on Orihime's face when he wore it and knows that its powers are dark and wrong. That is mostly why he avoids it, even when the power is desperately needed.
Astroga121: Thanks. That boss fight was a hard one to do and really tricky to choreograph because of so many characters in the fight and making sure they get at least a mention here or there. Not easy I tell you.
No, Theradras is within the Mountain along with the majority of the Elemental forces. The Storm did not penetrate into the mountain what so ever. Also the Arcane powerup is far in the future sadly, far away indeed.
Don't be too sure about the Nightmare and the forces behind it, there are a lot of things that are being worked in the background here. So be aware that while one plan may fail others are in the works.
Reality Deviant: Thanks.
Silverhawk88: Yeah, third time in this story and this was by far the longest. But it has been dealt with. Naxx is something I need to consider carefully, whether to include it or not, need to Read the Ashbringer comics to see how they handled that.
BrokenLifeCycle: Technically it won't, the human body has limitations that prevent it from growing to inhuman levels. But certain magical factors can changed that.
Also you have a point. His Bankai I recall being said to help deal with his wild fluctuating spiritual energy that he couldn't control, meaning that compressing it is a design to help him compensate for his lack of control over his spiritual pressure and energy. Also considering how fast his powers developed it is no wonder why it came out the way it did, technically interference from Old Man Zangetsu also hindered its development because he held back Ichigo's true Zanpakuto spirit and Shinigami powers.
Thenewguy15: Glad you liked it.
Ichigo has always had reservations about using and summoning the mask, there are times when he does not want to rely on his Inner Hollow. Unless provoked into being forced to use it, usually when a friend is in danger such as Nel or Orihime that he summoned the mask. But before that he often relies on fighting in a fair and square manner, similar to when he fought Byakuya and tore off his mask.
But yes his inner turmoil and Zangetsu's warnings about his Inner Hollow are forcing Ichigo to suppress it even more. But eventually there will be a time when his Inner Hollow will take centre stage as a major driving force for Ichigo that will reveal much of his past and origins for Ichigo. In the Burning Crusade his Inner Hollow will become much more pronounced.
Prince Sheogorath: I know, I do try to switch it up a bit by making it that it is a parry or riposte rather than a block because doing so is actually very tricky.
Black Cross0: Yeah, this is that chapter.
I am surprised as well really, have all the games and love them, at least the First and Second ones. After that it gets a little iffy for me. To me Assassins Creed Revelations was the last good Assassins Creed games.
Maluineth, don't worry her name took me a while to remember as well. Even if I created her.
Human Warlocks are common, and the Fel slowly turns these individual into demons over time. Corrupting the body, mind and soul to the demonic and eventually make you one of them, it is how the Draenei become demons.
Slimjim77: Thanks.
Blindluck92: Hey, what can I say. I am a master of twists and turns.
Yeah, I want Ichigo to refine his powers and know his limits and try to break them. That was why I had him do that training for the two weeks after he got back from Dire Maul. To understand his limits and issues with using his powers, because from that he can grow stronger and when he is trained to be strong at his weakest. When he eventually gets all his power back and uses it he will have a greatly refined power base.
Vinayakdj1: Maybe, I don't know sadly. So happy Budday!
Heh, that was the point, didn't want you to know how they were in chains until I explained it later.
Maybe it appears that way but in truth Mildreas would have eventually been beaten by them, his powers simply made him more resilient than most others. Ichigo was able to bloody him and wreck his shit, but Mildreas could respond in kind. But remember that Ichigo used Bankai as a resort to end the fighting quickly, for that is what Bankai is meant to be used for. A last resort to end a fight quickly and as efficiently as possible.
Also I only compared him to Byakuya and Urahara in terms of sword skill and ability, mainly how he handled his blade and how good his swordsmanship was. Speed was never compared to anyone specifically.
As for the cloak, Magic. The Arcane was used to skin the fur from the Primal God, magic has properties that basically cheat the system on how things work. Ichigo was fighting with Spiritual Energy vs Spiritual Energy, the weaker is offset by the stronger but with the Arcane that is changed. The Arcane screws over the natural rules and allows for things to be broken, that is why certain magical attacks and weapons were able to harm Mildreas while Ichigo's blade was forced to rely on the tried and true method of spiritual power overcoming spiritual power. I am sure I explained this in the chapter.
Leapinglemur: Glad you liked it.
Galabrax: Glad to hear that you like the story. No but his Vasto Lorde form will make an appearance later on, but not because Ichigo becomes it, it will be very strange and unique experience. Also Ichigo will be brought facts that will say that his inner spirits are not as they say they are.
UnwantedNox: I am glad you like my chapters but perhaps it is best to read all of them and leave only one review when you read the last chapter. I am not above having more reviews but when they are just two words with a lot of smiley faces it kind of takes away the point of a review bar.
