Ladies and gentlemen, we are back with yet another chapter! Things are really finally starting to head towards the finale of this arc, and I do hope you've all been entertained by it all. This time we're dealing with the Primera Espada, and well...I don't want to ruin the surprise, so let's get things started!
Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo and Shounen jump. Fairy Tail is owned by Hiro Mashima and Weekly Shounen Magazine. I own NOTHING. This is all just for fun!
Starrk was not used to having to try very hard. He had never been a hard worker, and most of his life had been spent wandering the wastes, alone. He had to have fought hard to gain all this power at some point, but those memories were lost to the mist of time. For as far as Coyote Starrk could remember, he had been so incredibly strong that he could kill people just by being near them.
So, when he suddenly found himself on the defensive, Starrk had been at first infuriated, then curious. These two captains were at least powerful enough to keep up with him, and they were skilled, much more skilled than any shinigami he had ever met. He had had the upper hand only because of his sheer speed and strength, but there was no doubt either of them handled a blade better than he could ever hope to. Part of him still wished to lay down arms and go back home. Another part of him started to want to overcome this obstacle.
Thrusting forward with his blade, he stabbed at Kyouraku. The captain redirected the blow, and Starrk pulled back just in time to avoid a cut to the face from the second blade. Starrk stabbed at him again, carefully keeping himself guarded from a counter-attack, but so far the captain's guard held strong.
Irritably, Starrk charged a cero in his off-hand. It took little effort to bring it up to the power of a Gran Rey, and he made a wide slash for the captain to parry. As their blades made contact, Starrk shoved his hand forward, and there was a blinding flash of light-
-and a second later, Starrk found himself plummeting to the ground, thrown from the sky by his own power.
Kyouraku had dropped, fallen on his back to evade the cero, and behind him had Captain Ukitake stood, blades aimed. Somehow, the cero had run into his blade and right back at Starrk. It was like they had planned it.
They probably had.
He slammed into the ground, more irritated than actually wounded. The way they both worked in tandem… if they kept playing it like this, he would get outflanked, outdone, embarrassed.
He had a debt to pay.
"Lilinette!" he shouted, standing up and brushing the dust and rubble off his clothes. It took a second, but the little arrancar popped up from behind a corner. He had instructed her to hide, and she had been obedient.
"What?" she said.
"What do you mean, what?" Starrk snapped, looking up at the two captains. "We're doing it. It's time to stop screwing around."
"It really came to that, huh?" Lilinette mumbled, looking up, herself.
"I more or less expected it. This is their last stand, after all."
"But, weren't you supposed to go after-"
"Later. These two first," said Starrk firmly, glaring at the two captains.
"They really got you fired up, didn't they?"
"Nobody in the world knows what I look like fired up," Starrk muttered, "but… I'm getting there."
He extended a hand, and Lilinette took it. Their energies began to meld, and he felt the change begin.
"Kick About, Los Lobos!" cried Starrk, and just like that, Lilinette disappeared. His uniform was replaced with a slick fur coat, and a patch hung over his left eye. In his hands were two guns, bone grey. He radiated power.
It was time to end them.
With a single step Starrk flew up into the air, leaping up level with the two captains. Aiming his guns, he let loose a volley of ceros, aiming first for Ukitake. Realizing that the sheer volume was too much to counter at once, he weaved out of the way. Starrk's blasts tracked the captain as he ran, but before the primero could get a proper bead on him, Kyouraku charged. His two blades worked in deadly tandem, but Starrk parried them with his guns, refusing to yield. He kicked Kyouraku in the gut, firing off a cero almost point-blank. This one struck home, sending the captain flying. Ukitake was already moving, and Starrk felt a binding spell wrap around his chest. Golden chains bound him tightly.
Starrk's eyes narrowed as he flexed his muscles. What did they expect this would do? The chains cracked under the pressure, and shattered. Starrk aimed his guns at Ukitake, firing a deadly salvo in return. The captain vaulted out of the way, forced on the defensive.
Jushiro dodged yet another blast, wondering when it would end. Each individual cero was not overwhelming in itself, but they were fired so quickly that it didn't matter. A cero was a cero, and although he could survive one, maybe two direct impacts, this many in succession were too much. Formed instantly and fired with speed, the primero's weapons were truly lethal.
"Well, damn," muttered Kyouraku, blades held low as the two of them regrouped. He was singed, his clothes semi-burnt and his skin seared red from the blast he had taken. "I can see why he's their number one. No chance of turning it against him?"
"It would overload my blades," Jushiro said, shaking his head. "They can only handle so much energy at once. If he kept firing at me, he'd ruin my sword."
"No sense holding back," Kyouraku said, eyes narrowing. "I can try my shikai abilities for a bit, but honestly, I should probably use my bankai straight away. If there ever was a time…"
"Too dangerous," said Jushiro, shaking his head. "You could catch some of our own people. Its area of effect is too wide. I'll go first. We'll use yours if I fail."
"Are you up for it?"
Jushiro knew what he meant. Are you going to fall over halfway through and die?
"I haven't run out of breath just yet. I have to at least try."
"Alright, so be it," said Kyouraku, nodding. "I'll cover for you."
A blast passed right between them, to remind them that the battle was not over. Kyouraku gave his friend a look, then surged forward. He dodged left and right, narrowly evading one blast after another, furiously engaging the primero with both of his blades. Knowing he had no time to waste, Jushiro raised one of his blades high, the other pointing low as his power started to grow.
"Bankai," he called confidently. "Ten no Nami to Kaminari!"
His blades did not change, but the weather around him did. A brisk wind picked up, quickly turning into a gale. Around his raised arm, clouds, wind, and rain started to form, a localized storm at his command. From the clouds bursts of lightning formed, reaching down to his lower blade.
Starrk fired off blast after blast. Kyouraku dodged like a madman, spinning around in the air as a blur of black and white. He had the captain pinned down now, forced back by the sheer volume of fire from his guns. Not even able to close the distance as of yet, the captain was thoroughly on the back foot.
Something about that struck Starrk as… wrong. It hadn't been half a minute, but that still left plenty of time to feint and strategize. In a battle of life and death, every single moment was invaluable. In the furious exchange so far, the captain had done little more than lash out with his blades, never coming close. He was fast and dangerous, of course, but…
Where was Ukitake?
The question was answered by the sky darkening above the primero. He shot a quick glance into the distance; sunlight still shone down on the ground there. This was limited, and therefore the result of some power activated. Bankai.
The cloud was but the first of what was to come. Thick droplets of rain pelted Starrk, who still found himself busy with Kyouraku, the captain seeming to redouble his efforts. Then lightning struck, a thousand volts coursing through Starrk's body. The espada tensed up, suddenly reeling back from the involuntary spasms in his body. There was pain-
It struck again, and again, and again, the lightning bolts hammering down like a blacksmith's strikes on red-hot iron. This was pain. Starrk's body seized up with every strike, struck again and again before he had a chance to start moving again. Only the sheer, raw power of his form protected him from incineration.
Then as suddenly as it had begun, the lightning strikes paused-
And Starrk saw the points of two thick blades jut out from his chest, run through his back. The lightning had ceased only to give Kyouraku an opening. Starrk grit his teeth, watching his own blood seep through his clothes, down his chest.
But, Starrk was espada- the primero, of all things. He had endured pain unlike anything his peers ever had, and his constitution was exceptional. Turning his head to glare back at the captain, both his hands wheeled over his shoulders, aiming his guns point-blank at his assailant. As he fired backward, he felt the blades yanked free as Kyouraku leaped out of the way. He tracked the captain every step of the way, one gun blasting away as Kyouraku ran. Even so, he was not unaffected by the deep cuts he had just taken. His shots went wide, and he staggered back. Grunting, he took a deep breath and righted himself, refusing to submit. As he steadied himself, he saw Kyouraku parallel with Ukitake, the white-haired captain descending to his level. He seemed to wield pure lightning in one hand, and clouded smoke in the other.
"Lightning for damage. Water to make sure the lightning travels through me as well as possible. That is quite a bankai, Captain Ukitake," Starrk said, his eyes narrowing.
He was already thinking about it, analyzing it. The lightning was potent in itself, but the way it had stunned him was by far the worst part of the equation. It seemed to be well targeted within the storm area- should he run away? Hard to say. Chances were the storm would move with the captain.
It had its limitations. They had ceased to leave an opening for Kyouraku, meaning it was capable of some level of friendly fire. Worse yet, Kyouraku had not unleashed his bankai yet, meaning this would only get worse.
All of this and more passed through his mind in an instant as the two captains approached him.
"Damn, Ukitake," Kyouraku said, "he took how many of those lightning bolts, and two swords through the chest, and he's still standing?"
"It's no more or less than I would expect," said Ukitake firmly. "Even so, we can push the advantage now. I'll create an opening for you. Go, Kyouraku!"
Eyes visibly narrowing, Starrk aimed one gun at Kyouraku, firing off a quick set of blasts at the captain, taking a carefully aimed shot at Ukitake. Kyouraku spun out of the way, but the shot aimed at Ukitake hit home-
Only to disperse in a flash of light as a bolt of lightning striking the cero before it could hit home. The energy dissipated harmlessly, dispersing across the storm. Not a moment later, Kyouraku had closed the distance, his blades whirling like a dervish. Starrk sensed power gathering to his right and twisted out of the way just as a lightning bolt shot past him, narrowly missing its target. Starrk found himself parrying and evading, firing off a blast whenever he could. Kyouraku's form was flawless, and now having to evade one lightning bolt after another, Starrk suddenly found himself hard pressed.
Jushiro watched the battle unfold with both arms raised, like some kind of storm-wreathed conductor. He directed the lightning to and fro, but now that the primero was getting accustomed to the attacks, Jushiro found it harder and harder to land a hit. Lightning moved at the speed of… well, lightning, but the espada seemed to sense them in the same instant that they formed, moving away from where they would be when they struck. Already the ground beneath them was becoming dotted with little craters from where the bolts had struck, and a building was partially collapsed. Jushiro breathed in frustratedly. His bankai was tremendously powerful, but the espada seemed to know how to adapt to everything they had to throw at him.
Well, it wasn't going to be easy. He'd known that going in.
"Kyouraku!" he cried, having to shout over the whipping wind and heavy rain.
"A bit busy down here!" Kyouraku shouted back, swinging furiously at the espada.
"Pull back!"
"Are you- are you serious?" Shunsui's eyes widened.
"We need to end this now, before we end up tired. I'll give you all the opportunity you need.
Kyouraku nodded and suddenly broke off, rushing to the outer edge of the storm.
Meanwhile, Jushiro's reiatsu was growing. His lungs ached, and he knew that the longer this went on, the worse it would be. Eventually his frail health would catch up with him. It was a miracle he had lasted this long, to be honest.
He could not falter. Not now, when everything was on the line. Taking a deep, pained breath, Jushiro let his power build. In his right hand, the bolt of lightning crackled, writhing with raw power. It ached to run free, to escape his grasp and revolt across the entire area to devastating effect. This was the power of his bankai, raw and immense. He had always struggled to keep it in check.
And now… it was time to unleash it.
The clouds, stretching a hundred meters across or so, went from grey to almost black. Lightning crackled everywhere around it, building up. Starrk, noticing the change, leaped at Jushiro, firing as he went. It took little effort to intercept the shots, dissolving them before they could do any damage, but the charging espada, himself, wasa problem. Jushiro could almost see the whites in his eyes now, and it wasn't ready-
"Bakudo sixty-three: Sajou Sabaku!"
Golden chains wrapped around Starrk, stopping him dead in his tracks and sending him plummeting as Kyouraku pulled at them. Starrk grunted, crashing onto the roof of a building. It took him but a moment to stand up and another to tear off the chains, the kido spell no match for the raw strength of the espada.
But, the seconds it had bought were enough. From below, Kyouraku gave Jushiro a quick wave, before once again heading to the periphery of the storm cloud.
"Storms, hear me now," Jushiro muttered. "Daikaminari!"
At once the lightning intensified tenfold, turning the storm area into a minefield of electricity. The ground beneath them was pulverized, and whatever parts of any nearby building caught within its area of effect quickly collapsed, reduced to rubble from the raw, awesome force of the elements that Jushiro commanded. Starrk tried his best, and he managed to dodge the first few dozen strikes, but he might as well have tried to dodge a hurricane. Before too long a bolt of lightning found him, and then another, and then another. Once the espada was well and truly stunned Ukitake focused the lightning a little, directing the unleashed storm energies toward where the espada had fallen. It was only vaguely directed at him, but it was no more than he needed. The lightning homed in on the core of his power, drawn to his strength like a moth to the flame.
The pain he had felt before was nothing. Starrk's entire body felt like it was on fire, and he could see nothing, feel nothing except the burn. He was vaguely aware of his body twisting and jerking, spasming under the unending electrical assault. He would scream, except his jaws were locked in a cramp. He was being pounded into the ground, tons of rubble toppling over him, and the only thing keeping him from being buried was the lightning coming down on him, sending gravel and rubble flying. He could only let out a pained groan from a dry, aching throat as the lightning ravaged his body.
Jushiro looked down on the ruined landscape beneath him, hoping dearly that no human being had been caught up in this calamity. If they were, they would be dead by now. He was breathing heavily, feeling the drain of the lightning. Even so, he maintained the attack for as long as he could, because at no point did he delude himself into thinking this would be enough. He could only hope the primero would be left vulnerable enough.
The attack ended, and tons of pulverized asphalt and gravel collapsed in over Starrk. He was deep underground now, enveloped in darkness. His body still twitched, but he was finally in control of himself again. Letting out a frustrated cry, he shoved the dirt on top of him aside, and started digging his way out. It didn't take much; it was only matter, after all. There was a spray of dirt, and Starrk's hand grasped onto the side of a pavement, heaving himself up to ground level. He felt nauseated, shaken, and a little impressed. It had been a long time since anyone had made him feel this way.
Then he looked up and saw the silhouette of Kyouraku Shunsui, blades out.
Starrk reacted as quickly as his dulled, tired senses could, bringing a gun to bear, but Kyouraku had been ready. As Starrk raised a hand to aim a gun, the blade bit into his wrist, severing the hand. Before the limb had landed on the ground, Kyouraku had struck again just as Starrk was rising to his feet, two vertical slashes cutting deep into his chest. Starrk staggered back and the captain pushed the attack, shoving both blades forward in an elegant thrust. Starrk's eyes widened as they both cut into his chest, running through his steely hide. Determinedly, his blades slowing as they cut into Starrk's resilient form, Kyouraku pushed until both blades had run halfway through the primero.
No. It couldn't end like that. He wouldn't let it.
There was stillness. The pale moon of Hueco Mundo's infinite desert shone down on the lifeless landscape, casting shadows where the dunes rose high. From one such shadow, the Beast looked out. He had dug himself a burrow, where he had stayed for…
It was impossible to say. Time had lost meaning to him a long time ago. He wished he knew when.
He had slept for a long time. Most hollows would avoid a deep sleep out of fear that they would be caught unawares, but the Beast couldn't have cared less. He was too old, too strong, and too weary to be worried. He had slept, awoken, and gone back to sleep until his mind refused to sleep anymore. At least when he slept he could dream, and in his dreams he was not alone anymore.
He stared into the distance. With his senses, he could feel every lifeform within a hundred miles if he really tried, if he lay still long enough and just focused. These deserts were so much more alive than anyone would guess, and all that life avoided him like the plague.
It made sense. The law of the hollow was to avoid those stronger than oneself, and the Beast had never met anyone stronger than him. He had walked to the palace of Hueco Mundo once, to see if perhaps he could serve under the king. Anything to cure the loneliness. But, whatever his hopes of camaraderie had been, they had quickly been dashed. King Barragan had found his presence intolerable, and although he lacked the power to defeat the Beast in combat, the king had still made it clear that the Beast was not welcome there. His presence made others think that he should be king and not Barragan, because such was the way of the hollow.
So the Beast had been exiled, alone again. That had been ages ago. He couldn't be sure how long, exactly, it had been, but he was sure it had been a very long time ago. It was a distant memory now.
At first when he sensed the stranger coming, he felt sure he was imagining things. A being headed towards him, directly and with purpose? A shinigami, at that? He had to be dreaming still.
But, everything was much too clear, and in the long time he had spent looking forward to his sleep the Beast had learned to tell the difference very clearly between what was real and what wasn't. The shinigami was real, and they were coming. They were strong, too, strong enough to stand up to the Beast's raw power. As he waited for them, the Beast thought about lunging at them, charging at them and striking them down. It was what hollows were supposed to do. But, why would he? Right now, the company of even a shinigami would be like a balm to the soul. Their kind hated his kind, they were sworn enemies, but everyone else had rejected him. Perhaps he could incite the shinigami to speak before they drew their blade and attacked.
He watched from the shadow of the dune, his eyes glimmering in the dark. The shinigami walked up close, stopping only ten yards or so away. Courteously, he bowed. He had brown hair, an air of confidence about him.
"Are you the one they call 'the Beast'?" asked the shinigami politely.
Curiously, the Beast shifted from where he lay, a gigantic, clawed paw reaching out from the dark. A long snout poked out from the shade, sniffing at the shinigami. Rows of sharp, white teeth, each one as long as the shinigami's forearm, could be seen in his mouth. Despite this, despite the immense power thrumming from his core, the shinigami remained perfectly calm.
"Who asks?" rumbled the Beast.
"Aizen Sousuke."
"You speak as if that name should mean something to me."
The shinigami smiled. "I imagine very little means anything to you. But, surely you must have a name other than 'Beast'? That is not a moniker many would choose willingly."
The Beast stared at him in silence for a good, long while before pulling back into the dark.
"Coyote Starrk. That is the name I have given myself."
"An apt name," said the shinigami, seeming amused.
"Have you come here to die?" asked Starrk.
"Do you desire to take my life?"
"…Not particularly," Starrk admitted. "I hunted not long ago. My belly is well filled."
"I assumed as much. Neither do I desire your life, Coyote Starrk."
"Then what brings you here? What would you ask of me?"
Starrk felt intrigued. He had met shinigami before. They had always screamed in terror before he killed them. This new arrival was totally different. Starrk supposed he would eventually have to kill the man; the shinigami was probably waiting for him to lower his guard before he struck. Then Starrk would kill him, and that would be that. Regardless, he would make the most of this, and remember this fondly.
"It is not what I ask of you," said the shinigami confidently, "but what you would ask of me."
Now Starrk's curiosity was well piqued. "Explain. What could you possibly offer me? I am the greatest of my kind. What can a mouse offer a dragon?"
"The one thing the dragon lacks."
"What do I lack, shinigami?"
"I will make you this offer. In time, a good long while from now, I will have need of an army made of the strongest this realm has to offer, and I would have you become my champion. You would serve me unquestioningly, and obey my every command. You will call me lord and master."
Starrk had not had cause to laugh for as long as he could remember, but a dry rasp still left his throat.
"And why would I bend knee to you, shinigami?"
"Because I will use my sorcery to transform you. You will be given a human form, and your power will be contained and kept sealed up, to be used only at your command. You will become arrancar, and not only that, but a kind never before seen. Better. Stronger. More effective. And, once transformed, nobody would ever need to fear being near you again."
Starrk paused, deep in thought.
"You understand what I lack, then. But, tell me, shinigami: How do I know this is not another trick on your part? Words are easy."
"That is why I will teach you one thing today, one thing to hold on to whether you accept or not."
"What would that be?"
"How to create a companion. A part of your flesh and blood, but with a mind of its own. A friend who would not fear you or run from you, nor fall apart from your strength."
The huge form in the shade shrunk down, and not long after, a wild-haired man in rags stepped out to meet Aizen.
"Do me this one favour, and we can talk," said Starrk, giving Aizen a deep stare. "If you can grant my wish, then… then I will call your lord and master. I have no need of my freedom."
"Then we have an agreement," said Aizen, smiling.
He was a menacing creature, but Starrk did not care. Loneliness… to be rid of it at last was worth any price.
The gun dropped from the primero's hand, clattering against the ground. Shunsui kept a close eye on the espada, preparing to twist the blades in the wound. There was no such thing as overkill with an enemy like this. It looked good, though. Starrk had almost gone limp, barely standing up. His posture was slumping, his head hanging down, and it looked as if he had finally been wounded in a way he couldn't just shrug off.
Shunsui pulled one of his blades free, aiming a heavy slash at the espada's neck. He could see it happening as he swung the blade, the sensation of it cutting into muscle, sinew and bone…
But, his vision was abruptly cut short. Starrk, who had been all but completely limp until now, suddenly tensed up. In an instant his good arm shot up and caught the blade as it came in, stopping the cut before it could take his head. The edge cut into his palm, and blood seeped down his wrist as he held the blade firm. Shunsui tried to wrench the blade free, but Starrk gripped it firmly. His one visible eye glowed faintly, and his spiritual core was suddenly overflowing with power.
"I had hoped… to save this for your old man," Starrk said, his voice deep and guttural. Before Shunsui's eyes the eye patch on his face burst, revealing two yellowing eyes. Starrk's features were growing more bestial. Fur started to grow over his skin, and his face elongated. His body grew, expanded. His hair turned into a shaggy, black-grey mane. His lost hand grew back, and in place of the human, pink-skinned limb was a thick, furred, clawed member. Before Shunsui's eyes, a semi-humanoid monster with lupine features took shape, five times as tall as a man. Starrk stood there as a beast with long, gangly limbs and a thin, almost skeletal appearance, his ribs plainly visible through the skin on his sides.
His head was wolf-like. Huge teeth filled his maw. Thick, elaborate antlers adorned his skull, stretching out twice the width of his shoulders. A huge mane of shaggy hair hung over his chest and shoulders, and the claws on his hands and feet looked very, very sharp. He looked like a starved dog, like some sort of nightmarish man-wolf. Shunsui watched the wounds he had given the monster disappear, either healed entirely or concealed by the fur. He steeled himself, raising his blades. The sheer power radiating from the monster was overwhelming, and even he, a senior captain, had trouble enduring it. What sort of beast had Aizen been hiding?
From above a storm of lightning showered the beast, and Starrk let out a furious roar, sending a chill down Shunsui's spine. Ukitake was up there, and even from here Shunsui could tell he was running out of steam.
"Over here, you big bastard!" Shunsui cried, leaping at the monster with both blades raised. He had to find some sort of opening, use his own bankai-
An offhanded swipe from the monster caught him in the side, sending him flying into a wall. Bricks shattered as he impacted, and Shunsui collapsed to the ground. As he scrambled to his feet, he saw the huge monster leaping toward Ukitake, ignoring him entirely. Lightning rained down on the beast mercilessly, millions of volts wracking its body with the kind of brutal punishment that could have evaporated a legion of hollows, but the monster did not stop. Unlike before, the lightning did not seem to slow him down, and he endured the electricity with a frustrated growl. He lunged, arm raised out, and Ukitake tried to parry, tried to move away-
Too slow. Perhaps it was his illness, or perhaps he hadn't expected such brutal speed, but Shunsui could only watch as the monster's clawed hand struck home. Three fingers ran Ukitake through, and the captain went limp in his grip. The lightning faded, and Shunsui could sense the bankai dissipating.
Not satisfied, the monster flung Ukitake off his claws, down to the ground, bringing his massive foot down where the captain had fallen. Blood sprayed from under its claws.
"NO!" Shunsui cried, running toward the monster with both blades raised. The shock of seeing his lifelong friend fall, crushed in a moment, was too much. In the moment he forgot all about strategy, trying only to reach Ukitake. The beast met him in a leap forward, a clawed arm raking at Shunsui. He twisted himself out of the way, sliding over and past the massive arm. As he went, he let his blade rake against the beast's side, landing nimbly on his feet. As soon as he landed he twisted around, both blades hacking into the monster's calves. But, although Starrk was gargantuan, he was neither slow nor dull. Shunsui's blades bit into flesh and drew blood, but the beast danced around to meet the new attack almost immediately, clawed arms raking at the captain with fast, powerful swings. Shunsui evaded the first and parried the second, needing both of his blades to meet a single strike. The overwhelming forced sent him flying, and his world went white for a second as he slammed into a pile of rubble, bouncing painfully onto the ruined pavement. Shunsui moved along with the fall, rolling to his feet, but he only got up to one knee before the monster struck again. Blades up just barely in time, Shunsui parried but was thrown like a ragdoll. He could feel his bones crying in protest as he slammed into a wall; even his shinigami physique could only take so much.
It was the speed. The monster wasn't just insanely powerful, but fast. He seemed to have no weaknesses to exploit. If Shunsui could only get his blades started, activate his bankai-
These jumbled thought leapt through his mind as he tumbled, but he would never get the chance. Somehow he managed to roll to his feet, his blades expertly deflecting a furious blow, but before he could regain his bearings the monster's second arm came in, spearing him through the gut. Shunsui's eyes widened and he let out a pained gurgle as two claws ran him through. He was pushed up against a wall, which crumbled easily by the sheer force of Starrk's claws. With contemptuous ease, Shunsui was thrown aside onto the ruined street. Before all went black, he saw the monster coming at him once more.
It took just one step to catch up. Starrk, eyes glowing with animalistic bloodlust, raised a hand to finish it once and for all. This had been interesting, but with his full power unleashed there was no stopping him, not even for the likes of Kyouraku Shunsui.
But before his hand could come down, a blue streak slammed into his face. Then his shoulder, his arms, his legs, peppering him with a million blows at his every weak point. More surprised than hurt, Starrk reeled back. In front of Kyouraku, a woman appeared. She wore all black, and had dark skin and purple hair.
"Shihoin Yoruichi,"Starrk rumbled.
"So, you already know my name, huh?" said the woman. She sounded confident, carrying herself with the posture of a seasoned warrior, but he smelled the fear on her. She knew what she was up against.
"If you intervene, you will die, too."
It was not a threat, but a statement of fact. Even now, Starrk didn't especially want to kill anyone he didn't have to. The two star pupils of Yamamoto had gotten him worked up, but beyond what was asked of him he had no interest in conflict. This was her one chance to back down.
"Well, we all gotta go some time."
Well, if she wanted to be a hero, then that was her choice. "So be it."
She was the one to take the initiative, rushing forward once more. Her fists crackled with electric energy, and she dashed at him, punching out at blinding speed. Massive blasts of lightning arced out as she dashed back and forth, always out of his grasp. Her blows stung, but little more than that. Starrk lashed out with his hands, but even he could not seem to keep up. The lithe, quick woman was every bit as fast as Aizen's records had said.
As she sailed over one of his sweeping blows with ease again, Starrk decided to change strategy. She wasn't his target anyway. Ignoring the attacks, enduring the lightning strikes with grit teeth, he stepped toward Kyouraku. His stride was shaken by her attacks, and he nearly lost his balance after a particularly vicious blow to his knee joint, but he did not relent. Suddenly Yoruichi broke off, and Starrk lunged- only to catch a massive roundhouse kick to the side of his face. Finally losing his balance, he slammed into a building nearby as he staggered. The building evaporated from the sheer, raw power of his form, and he quickly recovered. As he snapped his head around to find her, he saw Yoruichi was gone- and with her, Kyouraku. He looked toward where Ukitake had fallen, and there she was, Kyouraku slung over her shoulder and in the process of picking up the other captain.
Starrk growled and leaped, giving chase. Yoruichi dashed away, carrying both captains. It took her only a second to become a distant spot in his field of vision, but Starrk had her scent. He leaped, almost instantly closing the gap with long, powerful strides.
Yoruichi cursed. Alone, she could easily have outrun this monster, but carrying not one but two captains slowed her down pretty badly. He was right on her tail, too, and as she cast a glance back she saw his massive, fanged jaw snapping at her. She dashed sharply to the left, kicking off the side of a building and going lower toward the ground, hoping to find a place to hide. Starrk simply smashed right through the building in his path like it was never there, not even slowing down. She could dash and zigzag, twist and turn, but he never seemed to lose track of her. She could only hope the two captains she was carrying weren't dying in her arms from the constant twists and turns she had to make.
Inevitably, she slipped up. A bestial hand lashed out at her, glancing against her shoulder. The claw raking against her shoulder hurt, but worse was how she spun out of control, careening toward the ground. She managed to right herself at the last second, her knees screaming in pain as she impacted with the street. She looked up and Starrk was looming over her.
Right now, she could either let go and run, or die. She could save herself, or die along with them. The decision was clear, obvious; any basic Stealth Corps operative would have known what to do. One alive is better than none.
Yet for all that, Yoruichi still held on to them, not really knowing why. She struggled up to her feet, ignoring the pain, ignoring the monstrous espada rearing its arm up for a final strike, and tried to get up and run again. She could see the claws of his arm coming closer and closer and grit her teeth, refusing to stop.
Everyone had to go some time.
Only at the very last second was her stubbornness rewarded. A wall of fire erupted between her and the monster, burning with sudden and tremendous ferocity. Starrk reeled back, arms raised against the blazing flames. Feeling the heat almost crackle her skin, she looked around to see him, the old man. Walking down the avenue, blade drawn, was Yamamoto Shigekuni Genryuusai, the captain-commander of the Gotei. Relief washed over her, and Yoruichi's knees buckled at last, more from fear and adrenaline than stress or pain.
"Shihoin Yoruichi," rumbled the commander, "are you fit?"
"He only nicked me," Yoruichi said, nodding wide-eyed. The captain-commander shed his coat, dropping it to the street like it were nothing and assuming a combat stance.
"Then care for them as best you can. Know that you have earned my gratitude this day. For now, I will deal with this creature."
The fires parted as Yamamoto walked toward Starrk, and Yoruichi felt a hint of the raw power emanating from his form. Although controlled, it was like a blazing inferno more than rivalling the uncontrolled force of the beast in front of them. As Yamamoto came closer, Starrk lashed out with a clawed hand. Without flinching, Yamamoto held still until the hand almost hit him. Then, moving with unexpected speed, his arm lashed out, catching the massive hand by the wrist. Effortlessly he held it there, giving the monster an unimpressed glare. He spat at the ground and stabbed Ryujin Jakka into the dirt, his reiatsu starting to rise. Starrk tried to pull back his hand, but the old man kept his grip. He gave the arm a tug, and as Starrk nearly toppled over he lunged forward, slamming both his fists right into the beast's chest. Starrk let out a surprised, breathless grunt and staggered back several steps before falling onto his back.
Yoruichi was a master martial artist, and there was not much left to know about hand-to-hand combat that she had not learned, but even she felt deeply impressed not just by the sheer force behind his punch, but the precision.
As the monster fell, Yamamoto wrenched free his blade and walked toward Starrk at a leisurely, confident pace. Starrk was already getting to his feet, but before he could recover, Yamamoto swung his blade. A torrent of fire lashed out from it, striking Starrk straight in the chest. His fur caught fire, and the blast forced him back toward the ruined ground Yoruichi had just escaped. Time and time again, the beast was forced back after a timely lash of power.
Yoruichi understood. When the captain-commander let loose, anyone could die just by being within a hundred feet of him, or more. Quickly, she went to work trying to stabilize the two beaten captains.
Starrk growled, a deep, guttural, and angry sound. This was power, true power of a kind he had never felt before. Something equal to him. Slowly pushing himself up to a standing position amidst a ruined square, long deserted and totally devastated, he patted out the fires on his fur.
"Are you finally ready to truly fight me, old man?" he growled. The fire so far had been intense, but he knew it was nothing compared to what the captain-commander was capable of.
"So, you are Aizen's trump card, then," said Yamamoto gruffly. His stern gaze was impressive, almost frightening when backed by his ferocious power.
"You could say that," Starrk said, flexing his claws. "I owe him a debt. Today I will repay it."
"You make a mockery of honour, hollow," said Yamamoto sternly, raising his blade high. "You live as a tool and you will die as a tool."
"So long as I serve my purpose."
"Hmmph," Yamamoto snorted. A wave of raw spiritual energy pulsated from him as he tapped into his reserves, and his blade blazed a fiery orange. Starrk could feel the heat from where he stood, and his lips curled into a cold sneer. Time to find out if there actually was somebody stronger than he.
The beast lunged, arms stretched out for a massive, clawed strike. Yamamoto met his charge, the two of them clashing mid-air. Starrk clawed at him, but Yamamoto made for a small target, and a massive blow slammed Starrk in the chest. Howling out in pain he reeled back, and Yamamoto continued his assault, hammering down one massive blow after another. The ground turned a deep black where he walked, the concrete under his feet cracking under the heat. Starrk's hide, the thickest armour any hollow had ever had, barely held up. He could feel every strike sear his skin, and he felt like he was being cooked alive. Despite his massive height, standing almost three times as tall as the old man, he couldn't seem to break his stride. Snarling out in frustration he caught one sword blow with his arm, white-hot pain erupting through his limb as the super-heated blade ground against it. As he parried the blow his jaws shot forward, aiming for the old man's head.
Yamamoto twisted out of the way, but not far enough. Long, sharp teeth sunk into his shoulder and Starrk bit, ignoring the stinging pain of the blade against his arm. Yamamoto was quick to respond, his free hand making a fist that slammed into Starrk's head. Every strike made the beast's head ring, and he could feel teeth cracking as the old man swung one heavy blow after another, but he stubbornly held on and shook his head, teeth digging deep into the old man's flesh.
Yamamoto grunted in pain and put down his blade, grabbing Starrk's jaws firmly, one in each hand. Slowly, inexorably, against all reason, he pried open the beast's mouth. Starrk felt a little shocked. These teeth could rip through mountains. They were an inescapable death trap. Yet with his hands alone, enduring the pain like it were nothing, this shinigami was undoing Starrk's grip.
Yamamoto did not let go. Holding on to Starrk's lower jaw, he yanked hard. Starrk nearly fell over, having to brace his arms against the ground to avoid falling. A vicious fist slammed into his throat, and he let out a surprised cough. Two strong arms wrapped around his snout, forcefully closing his jaws, and Starrk suddenly found himself lifted up by the head, body and all. Before he had time to flail about or break free, Yamamoto had fallen on his back, slamming Starrk into the ground with him. Yamamoto stood up, one hand holding Starrk by the throat. Blood was seeping down his shihakusho, but he didn't seem to notice it. With his sword arm he grabbed his weapon from the ground, angling it to the base of Starrk's neck and thrusting forward. Feeling the intense heat, Starrk yelped and slapped the blade aside. The stab went aside, thrusting into his shoulder instead. The tip burned through his tough, furry hide and slid several inches inward.
The captain-commander grunted with exertion, and the flames of his blade intensified. Feeling as if caught in the middle of a malicious, living inferno, Starrk yelped and lashed out with his free hand. He had to do something, now, or he would be slowly burned alive. His claws found purchase, whether by luck or instinct, and drew blood in Yamamoto's side. The captain-commander wrenched free his blade, clutching the wound as he took a step back. Breathing heavily, Starrk stood up again.
Blood was dripping down Yamamoto's chest, but the old man seemed completely unaffected. He took a step forward and broke into a charge, before Starrk could react. He parried the first blow only barely, suddenly pushed back by a furious set of swings. Each hit home like a hammer blow, great gouts of fire spraying around them with each strike. Starrk lashed out with one arm while he parried with the other, but the old man jumped over the strike with a smooth agility that belied his age. Grasping the blade in both hands, Yamamoto came down with a heavy overhead strike. Starrk pulled back, but the strike raked over his chest, opening a gash. It did not have time to bleed, cauterized immediately by the heat. Starrk staggered back.
Eyes narrowing, he let out a throaty growl. He was faster than this. He would not let this shinigami dictate the pace. Taking a step back from the next swing, he slammed a fist down onto the ground, which shook and shattered under the impact. Yamamoto was momentarily put off balance, and Starrk thrust his claws forward. The old man caught the swing in a quick parry, but Starrk shoved him to the side, forcing him to lose balance on the loose, rocky ground. Yamamoto fell, rolling with the blow. A massive, clawed fist slammed into him before he could do more than get up to one knee.
The captain-commander caught the fist in his hand, sinking a few inches into the ground from the impact, his aging muscles straining against the raw power. He raised his blade for a strike in return, but Starrk's other hand had already reached around, clawing him across the back. Yamamoto let out a pained grunt as they bit deep into his flesh.
But, rather than get taken aback or reel from the attack, Yamamoto twisted the fist aside, jumping up toward Starrk. An underhand swing slammed into the primero's chest, and a grand shower of fire washed over the espada as the commander hit home. The shock of the impact made Starrk stumble back, tumbling and falling onto his back. As savage as his cut had been, it hadn't even made the captain-commander break his stride. As he looked up to the sky, thrown to the ground, he saw the shinigami coming down on him, leaping toward him with his blade aimed down, Ryujin Jakka blazing brightly. Starrk quickly raised his arms in a cross to block, and the commander reversed the grip on his blade, swinging hard across Starrk's arms. A storm of dust and smoke was kicked up as Starrk was pushed deep into the ground, a crater forming where he lay. He felt his arms almost fracture as the blow connected, and the fiery pain of his flesh charred by the heat of these flames.
Yamamoto landed smoothly on the ground, dashing forward with his blade held low, in both hands, and Starrk only barely had time to roll out of the fresh hole he'd made. The blade came down, and a fiery shockwave impacted. Starrk, lifted off the ground, was sent bouncing across the ground. He quickly rolled to his feet, shaking his head to gather his thoughts. This was… unbelievable power. He was being handled like a ragdoll. He, Starrk. The captain-commander's power only seemed to grow as he walked toward the espada, and Starrk realized that he was only the second strongest being in the spiritual world. The old man looked like death itself, inevitable and ruthlessly determined, with a grim expression on his face.
Yet even in the face of such a titan, such an overwhelming force, Starrk did not feel afraid. He had lived a long, lonely life- too long, and too lonely. He had never been suicidal, but had never been very attached to life either.
Aizen fulfilled his promise. He gave me control of my power. He took away my loneliness. He gave me everything he promised and more, and… in the end, my life was better for it. Worth living.
Win or lose, he was not going to stop until he had nothing left to give. He would maul this shinigami, leave a mark that lasted.
Starrk got to his feet, ignoring the pain of the burns, and let out a loud roar. The sheer force of the sound cracked the earth around him, dust and debris kicked up a hundred yards in front of him. Flexing his claws, he charged. He leaped through the air, his left arm held up to block and his right held high to strike. Yamamoto leaped to meet him, and they clashed mid-air with a violent impact. Yamamoto's blade came in for a wide swing, targeting the right arm as it came in. Blade met flesh, and there was a fiery explosion. Immediately Starrk thrust his left arm forward, aiming to catch Yamamoto in the gut, but the shinigami twisted out of the way, his free hand catching Starrk's arm by the wrist. The two of them sailed through the air, locked in a deadly struggle.
With his arms pinned, Starrk lunged forward with his jaws, but Yamamoto had anticipated the move. He kicked forward, his foot slamming into the underside of Starrk's jaw. The espada's head was shot backward, and the force of it was enough to change their momentum, the two falling backward now. Yamamoto twisted his blade to the side and cut right across the beast's chest. Starrk, stunned by the blow to his head, could not bring his arm up to block in time. The sword bit into his flesh and the espada tumbled to the ground, Yamamoto landing on his chest, already bringing up a hand for another blow. However shocking and painful the blow had been, Starrk still had the presence of mind not to let another land, and he brought up a clawed hand to swipe at the captain-commander. The shinigami vaulted off of Starrk's chest, the swing going wide.
Slowly, Starrk pushed himself to his feet. There was a gouge in his chest, burnt almost to ash, running from his ribcage down to his gut. He couldn't remember the last time he had taken a wound like this. Curiously, he stared down at the shinigami.
Yamamoto returned the stare, looking as determined as ever. "How long can you keep this up, espada?"
It was a sincere question, Starrk sensed. For better or for worse, he decided to answer honestly.
"Until I am dead. I will not yield for as long as I can move a muscle, shinigami. I will serve my purpose."
"So be it," said Yamamoto gruffly. "I have had enough of this combat."
His power grew greater still, eclipsing Starrk's entirely, and he raised a hand, flipping the position of his blade so that it pointed downward. Then he stabbed it down, the blade going halfway into the ground.
"Ennetsu Jigoku," he rumbled, and a pillar or fire erupted where Starrk stood, fire enveloping him completely. Starrk cried out in pain, the very oxygen in his lungs catching fire. He was being seared, every inch of his being eaten away at. He was dying, he was sure of it now. He leaped forward but the pillar of fire followed wherever he went. He could feel his skin slowly turning to ash, his muscles starting to burn, his entire being assailed from every possible angle until he would eventually unravel.
Letting out a pained, furious roar, Starrk charged the captain-commander, swinging wildly at him. The old man parried his strikes, jumping back to avoid coming too close. The fire, it seemed, could hurt him, too. With this in mind Starrk went into a tackle, trying to pin the captain-commander down. The blade came down as the beast charged, severing his right arm by the elbow joint. The limb fell to the ground, but Starrk barely noticed over the all-consuming pain of being burned alive. Like a blunt instrument he slammed into Yamamoto, but the captain twisted out of the way, refusing to get pinned down. The heat seared the old man's skin, but he thrust a hand forward and a powerful ray of lightning shot from it. The blast surprised Starrk, whose frenzied charge was momentarily halted. Kidou. Of course the old bastard knew kidou.
Knowing his time was running short, he renewed his attack. He would hurt him. He would wound him. He would make sure that when the captain-commander faced Aizen, he would be weak and weary.
But as Starrk stampeded forward, the commander dashed to the side. The primero suddenly collapsed face first into the ground as his right leg gave out, severed by the knee. He hadn't even noticed it happening.
An arm and a leg short, Starrk still propped himself up, leaping lamely toward the captain-commander. Ryujin Jakka's edge met his clawed strike, and a powerful blast of fire knocked Starrk back. All the while, the fire ate through his muscles, down to his very bone…
And just like that, Starrk had nothing left to give. He felt his form flicker, too weak to be maintained against the overwhelming fire burning him. Slowly, he shrunk down to his human-sized form, and with a final burst of power he pushed the flames away for a moment.
"Please, shinigami," Starrk wheezed, knowing the fire surrounding him would not let up, would collapse in on him at any moment, "give me just… one moment. I have no strength left."
"You ask for mercy, espada?" rumbled Yamamoto, and it seemed plain that he had none to give.
"Will you beg? Will your life end in indignity?"
"Not for me," Starrk said, feeling his skin start to crack under the heat, "but for… the one thing I have left. One who deserves to live on after me."
It was a desperate plea. He fully expected the shinigami to watch him burn until oblivion. Yet, suddenly the fire relented, gone in an instant. Starrk found himself sitting on the ground, staring down Yamamoto's blade. He was still missing an arm and a leg, just barely sitting up. The sword was pointed at his neck. It was clear there would be no escape. But still…
"Thank you," Starrk said earnestly, a peaceful expression on his face.
He closed his eyes and focused, ignoring the pain of his wounds. His spiritual energy was all but drained, and it took effort to make it happen, but what was left of his power did flow, did follow his will, even if it wasn't easy. The smoke that surrounded him, seeping off him from his burn injuries, suddenly seemed to take shape. It turned white, rather than an ugly grey, and with a last infusion of power it took shape. Arms, legs, a head, and in an instant the smoke turned into the form of an arrancar. Sitting there with a surprised look on her face, as if she had fallen on her rear, was Lilinette. Her eyes teared up, looking at his burnt and beaten form.
"What are you doing, you big idiot?" she said weakly.
"It's my time to go," said Starrk weakly, smiling at her, "but not yours."
"Don't say that! Don't leave me alone!"
"There is a life out there worth living for you if you look, Lilinette, if you only go looking for it. Me? I've done my part. I wanted to just… do one last good thing before I went."
"It isn't good!" Lilinette cried, weeping openly. "Starrk, no! Don't-"
"Lilinette, I am… weak," Starrk said, cutting her off. The smile never left his face, sombre and sober. "I can't remember the last time I felt weak. I literally cannot. I've always been… too strong for my own good. But, now it's all been eaten away. I've finally faced something too strong to tear down. It feels… peaceful. All this power, lifted from my shoulders. I've lived too long as it is, but you haven't. There's no saving me, but I can save you."
He turned up to Yamamoto, a pleading look in his eye. "Please, spare her. She is no threat to anyone."
Yamamoto gave a scrutinizing look, then nodded.
"This is goodbye, Lilinette," said Starrk calmly. "It's been good having you by my side."
"No…" she whimpered. "No, you can't leave. We've always been together."
Starrk shook his head ruefully, and looked up to Yamamoto.
"And… I know I may be asking too much, but don't let her see it."
"NO!" Lilinette screamed, getting to her feet. She rushed Yamamoto, impotently batting her fists at his muscular frame. "YOU CAN'T DO IT!" she screamed. "YOU CAN'T! I WON'T LET YOU-"
Yamamoto's hand rose up, and Starrk raised his arm, crying out. "No, please!"
The backhand struck Lilinette firmly, and she went flying, tumbling across the ruined battleground.
"She will sleep for a while, but she will live," said Yamamoto. There was a hint of sympathy in the old man's voice.
Starrk nodded, relieved. "So be it. You have my thanks, captain-commander. I am ready if you are."
Yamamoto raised his blade, and Starrk did not flinch when it rushed at him. He closed his eyes, remembering.
The eternal night sky of Hueco Mundo seemed brighter, somehow. The shinigami had taken a pound of his flesh somehow, extracting a great deal of spiritual essence. Starrk had taken part of the sorcery, continually infusing more of his own near limitless energy to keep the little bundle of flesh alive. Before his eyes, blood, meat and bone had turned into something else. Bones had formed a skeleton, and muscles and organs had formed around it. Skin had grown over it, and it was taking the form of a little girl.
She was small of stature, and her power was just a fraction of his own. Insanely powerful compared to any normal hollow, but quite weak compared to him.
"Why isn't it dying?" asked Starrk curiously. "I can understand you surviving my presence, but this little thing… I have snuffed out stronger things than this without coming close."
"Firstly, it is a she, not an it," said the shinigami, smiling proudly, "and secondly, I have used a method based on the research of a unique item. She is attuned to your power. Her spiritual signature is identical to yours. The raw strength that you exude flows over her harmlessly, because it is a part of her to begin with. You would have to try to hurt her deliberately to change that."
"I had no idea shinigami were capable of such sorcery."
"They aren't," said Aizen firmly. "I alone command this power. It is a unique invention."
Starrk nodded. Although it had come from him, this was almost like creating life itself. For all his strength, he could never have dreamed of such a thing.
The girl stirred, letting out a groan.
"I think she is awake," said the shinigami. "I created her with a mind equal to your own. She will be able to talk to you and keep you company, but it will take her some time to grow and understand. You must be careful and considerate toward her."
Starrk nodded, an overwhelming feeling filling his heart as he watched her sit up for the first time, opening her eyes, staring at him. She was covered in a thin film of blood, sticking to her lithe form. She gave him a strange look and slowly, figuring out the words for the first time, she spoke.
"Who… am… I?"
Starrk felt shaken, wondrous emotions he had long since forgotten washing over him. A new life, one he would have to care for and watch over. A companion. Somebody who would depend on him. Somebody he would have to teach about everything one needed to know in the wastes.
"Lilinette," he said, his voice trembling. "Your name is Lilinette."
"Lili…nette." She spoke the word, as if tasting it. "Lilinette. I am… Lilinette."
"I am Coyote Starrk," said Starrk softly, kneeling in front of her, gently placing his hands on her shoulders, "and you are Lilinette… Lilinette Gingerbuck."
"Lilinette… Gingerbuck. Coyote Starrk."
He nodded, overwhelmed. "Just like that, yes."
He turned his face to the shinigami. On his knees, he was looking up at the man, and somehow he felt at home this way.
"And… I can keep her whether I say yes or no?"
"Of course," said Aizen courteously. "This is a gift. All I ask is that you consider my offer. I can take away your loneliness forever if you let me."
"This scheme of yours… it is not ready yet?"
"Not yet, no."
"Then come find me when it is. I will have an answer for you then."
Aizen nodded. "I look forward to it. Take good care of her. She is an arrancar just like you, but she is not unkillable. You must protect her."
Starrk nodded gratefully. "I will."
The blade cut into the base of Starrk's neck, running a foot in. He let out an empty gurgle, but he had no time to suffer; a second later fire enveloped him, and Starrk's form was reduced to ash. As oblivion took him, Starrk finally knew peace.
Yamamoto stared down at the pile of ash, slowly spreading across the ground with the wind. He felt… odd. This hollow was unlike any Yamamoto had ever fought. He had wanted to die.
Yamamoto grimaced. His wounds pained him; the beast had taken its pound of flesh in the process. Such monstrous power was unlike anything he had ever seen- the blows he had rained down on the monster would have shattered almost anything, but Starrk had endured it over and over. He could have released his bankai, but… then the defense of Karakura would have meant nothing. The whole town might have been consumed in the inferno.
He looked at the childlike arrancar, lying unconscious. Perhaps it was foolish of him to keep his word, but he had no intention of ending its life. She was small, weak, and defenseless, and he had better things to do.
It was at that moment that it happened. There was a tremor, a low rumble. A wave of colossal power surged out across all of Karakura, emanating from the sky. Aizen.
The force it exuded was great, but sophisticated. This was the signature of a spell finally executed. Yamamoto felt his heart skip a beat as he realized what had happened.
The ritual was complete. Aizen's design had been realized. They had failed.
Well now, I bet none of you saw that coming did you? Stark is a very different beast this time around, quite literally. Before any of you ask though, no, we did not give him a second release. This is more akin to him just deciding to go "all-out" or like how Yami continued to power up after his own release. And for the record, yes, his "full power" is based on the Cleric beast from Bloodborne.
I like to think that this time around he actually lived up to his hype as the number 1 espada. Thats not to say that STark from cannon wasn't strong. He defeated Love and Rose and almost forced the future captain commander to use his bankai after all, but I know a lot of people expected more from him.
As for the Aizen, yes, the madman has actually succeeded in creating the key. Now unlike cannon, this doesn't need all the lives of Karakura town to create it...but that's still not exactly what one would call a good thing either.
Will Yamamoto Genryusi be able to stop Sosuke Aizen from reaching the royal realm, or will the traitorous captain get his way? There's only one way to find out and thats to read more.
Please let us know what you thought of this chapter though, it would really mean alot to us.