Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with Bleach and Tales of the Abyss.
Luke vs. Asch
In the Human World, Luke was facing Asch for the first time in years. The last time he saw Asch was when he was confronted by him in Yulia City after the fall in Akzeriuth. The memory of that time still played in his mind with how he was tricked by Van to destroyed the Sephiroth of Akzeriuth and how the response from the people he had traveled with and how Asch revealed the truth to him that he didn't want to believe which led to his duel with him which resulted of him losing not only the duel but also his life.
"It still makes me sick," Asch said bitterly, "that a dreck like you is my replica, that trash like you stole my family, my home, everything."
"You're still saying that?" Luke replied angrily, "You know what, you can think what you like I don't care but tell me this… how did you find me?"
"Hmph, you would like to know," Asch said and then he drew his sword, "but it does not matter. I'm not obligated to tell how I found you but I know that you intend to be this Shinigami. Well I'm letting you know right now that I won't allow it. I won't allow trash like you to succeed in what you're trying to do."
"And what are you going to do about it?" Luke asked in defiance.
"I will kill you… again," Asch declared, "I'll make sure you die again."
"I won't let you," Luke declared as he drew his Zanpakuto, "this won't be the same as it was in Yulia City."
Asch sighed, "This is why replicas are such stupid things, you can't even understand the obvious result. Just lay down and die replica."
Luke suddenly used Shunpo and it surprised Asch and then he quickly blocked Luke's sword attack. Asch was shocked that Luke made the first move and felt the strength of Luke's attack.
"I won't just stand by and let you insult me anymore," Luke said, "I won't die… by someone as pathetic as you!"
"What did you say to me?" Asch replied shocked by Luke's words.
"You heard what I said the first time," Luke replied back, "I don't need to repeat myself."
Asch was taken aback by what Luke said.
"So now you think you're clever all of a sudden and you can stand against me," Asch said as he shook his head, "you're a replica, a second rate copy of me. You have no right… you have no right after what you've done."
Luke had his head, "You are in no position to say that to me… not after the things you did… after all, were you not one of the God-Generals… carrying out orders for Van."
Asch was taken aback again in what Luke said and Luke himself looked at Asch with a glare.
"You just did things and never explained anything and yet you had the nerve to expect me to just listen to you?" Luke continued in anger, "You, the one who attacked me and tried to kill with no explanation. What the hell was I supposed to think? No one says a damn thing and when things got real bad, nobody who knew or had an idea bothered to tell me a damn thing. No one even tried."
"Shut up," Asch said angrily, "shut up, just shut up! You understand nothing! You don't have the right to complain. I'm sick of you!"
Luke disappeared again which again surprised Asch. Luke reappeared right in front of him and Asch barely blocked Luke's sword attack with his own sword.
"Since you intend to kill me," Luke said, "I have to stop you. Unfortunately for you, I'm not going to just roll over and die."
"You bastard," Asch said angrily.
"Bring it on Asch," Luke said, "I won't back down."
Asch was able to push Luke back and glared at Luke with hatred.
"You're dead," Asch said with the tone dripping with venom.
Luke and Asch clashed their blades in their sword fight against each other. Meanwhile at the rendezvous point, the sixth year students were meeting and were concerned about one of their classmates.
"I can't believe that Luke went on his own," Izuru said, "that's concerning."
"What's also concerning is that Reiatsu that we're feeling," Momo said.
"We need to find him," Renji said.
"Yeah I don't like that Luke went on his own," Senna said with worry.
Guy and Ion felt something and it was something that was very familiar to them.
"Say Ion," Guy said, "don't you feel that power as something familiar?"
"Yes I do Guy," Ion replied, "in fact, it must be where Luke is."
Ion and Guy looked at each other and nodded and they turned to their classmate.
"We might know where Luke is," Ion said.
The other looked at Guy and Ion in response.
"Really?" Momo replied.
Meanwhile Luke jumped up in the air and Asch quickly jumped after Luke and was able to get behind him surprising Luke. Luke looked back and Asch was able to knock him back making Luke drop his Zanpakuto. Luke positioned himself and landed on his feet. Luke looked at his original that just landed on his feet and was blocking the way for Luke to get to his Zanpakuto and Luke clenched his teeth.
"Damn," Luke said in anger.
"You have no right to live," Asch said, "Do you understand now you damn dreck? You are nothing more but a mistake. If I hadn't been so weak back then, you would have never been created and my life would have been fine."
"You can say that all you want Asch but I will live on," Luke said, "going forward is all I can do."
"How dare you!" Asch said with hatred, "You have some nerve to say that after what you've done."
Luke raised his right hand pointing with his right index and middle finger.
"Hado#73: Soren Sokatsui!" Luke said.
Luke discharged a huge blue energy that shocked Asch and was put off guard as he barely dodged the Kido attack. Luke ran to go pick up his Zanpakuto. Asch was surprised again and saw Luke went for his sword and ran to try to stop Luke and with speed, the Arrancar went to hit his replica with his fist but Luke caught on and quickly used Shunpo. Luke was able to pick up his Zanpakuto and Asch was frustrated and went to strike Luke again but missed as Luke quickly used Shunpo again and reappeared again about to slash Asch with his Zanpakuto but Asch blocked the attack with his own sword and pushed Luke back. Luke landed on his feet again and got into his stance. Asch couldn't believe what was happening and wondered if it was the result of his training in the Soul Society.
Hueco Mundo
Arturo was standing somewhere in the sandy plains of the realm of the Hollows. Arturo had his eyes closed and then he opened his eyes and turned his head and saw many Hollows and then he looked around and saw Hollows that were surrounding him.
"Well now this is interesting," Arturo said.
The Hollows roared and charged towards Arturo who just raised his right arm in a calm manner and there was a strike that was high pitch. Not long after that, all the Hollows were on the ground dead and they were being absorbed by Arturo.
"That fool thinks he can send many Hollows after me," Arturo said, "and he dares calls himself king. Pathetic."
Arturo walks away and a small Hollow was watching Arturo and then went on the other direction.
Seireitei, Soul Society
In the library within the Seireitei, Seigen was reading books doing research of a particular topic and it had to do with the Quincies particular someone who was known as the progenitor of the Quincies who were spiritually aware Humans that were able to absorb and manipulate Reishi into spiritual weapons.
"Yhwach," Seigen said and narrow his eyes taking in the things that he was learning.
Afterwards he Seigen left the library and decided to go see someone.
Human World
Luke was in the air and charged towards Asch with Zanpakuto. Asch blocked and held Luke with his own sword.
"Give it up replica," Asch said, "you can't beat me! You'll never be able to beat me! You're nothing more but a defective thing."
"The hell with you!" Luke responded still keeping both of his hands on the hilt of his Zanpakuto, "Hado#11: Tsuzuri Raiden!"
Luke generated an electric current through his sword, which was damaging Asch which the current ran through and his original was screaming in pain.
"Damn you!" Asch roared as he went back and feeling the effect.
Luke had his right hand free and clenched his fist, "Demon Fist!"
Luke swung his right fist upward and launched a grounded projectile. Asch quickly saw it and destroyed the grounded projectile with his own fist.
"Not good enough," Asch said with a venomous tone.
Luke charged towards Asch and swung his sword and it was blocked by Asch's arm. Luke was surprised that his original blocked his sword attack with just his arm.
"Surprised?" Asch asked.
Luke flinched and Asch took the opportunity and kicked Luke in the stomach. It knocked the wind out of Luke and he was flown back and hit the ground. Luke felt the pain and he slowly looked at Asch who was slowly walked towards Luke.
"You're done replica," Asch said, "do you understand?"
"Tell me something Asch," Luke said.
"What?" Asch replied annoyed.
"Why the hell are you doing this?" Luke asked.
"Huh?" Asch replied, "Oh, are you trying to beg for your life? Forget it, your life is forfeit. I will kill you and you nothing you say can convince me otherwise."
"Nothing will change," Luke said, "no matter what you do to me, nothing will change. You had already killed me before and yet it's still not enough for you. What's wrong Asch?"
"Shut up," Asch replied, "you know nothing. You don't know understand anything, you never understand what people go through."
"You mean what you went through," Luke said as he glared at Asch.
"You…" Asch said with a venomous tone.
"Is part of it is the fact that you were killed by Guy?" Luke asked.
Asch was surprised and was taken aback as Luke stood up.
"I know what happened," Luke said, "I know what went down after you ended my life."
"Do you now?" Asch replied.
"You're just looking for someone to blame for the suffering you claim that you went through," Luke said.
Asch clenched his teeth, "The hell with you. I'm not going to listen to whatever you say!"
"Fine, I didn't expect you to," Luke said, "not that it matters to me. You're just a Hollow now, a Hollow that just wants to kill."
"Die replica!" Asch roared, "Thunder Blade!"
Luke was surprised and the sword of lightning fonic arte charged towards Luke. Luke himself quickly dodged it and panted a bit.
"Stalagmite!" Asch enchanted.
The earth fonic arte appeared on the ground that Luke stood on and Luke looked down and quickly jumped up as pillars of stones popped up.
"How naïve," Asch said as he looked at Luke who was up in the air, "Icicle Rain!"
Shards of ice rained down from the sky and Luke turned and blocked the ice shards with his sword and fell on ground but Asch grinned and held up his hand towards Luke.
"Explosion!" Asch said.
The fonic arte made a small ball of fire dropped near Luke and it created a massive explosion. It sent Luke flying in the air again and he fell on the ground feeling the effects of the burns he sustained. Asch had his sword in his hand and he charged towards Luke.
"You're finished replica!" Asch declared.
"So it's come to this," Luke said as he held his Zanpakuto, "Resonate, Nanatsu no Oto!"
Luke activated his Zanpakuto and swung it which made a high pitched sound and clashed with the blade of Asch's sword and it caused the blade of Asch's sword to resonate and caused a ringing sound and the sound was annoying to Asch. Luke got up and got in a stance enduring the pain that he was still suffering from the burns from Asch's fonic arte.
"Is this the best you can do?" Asch asked.
"I'm not done," Luke replied.
Luke used Shunpo and reappeared and clashed with Asch's blade again and another ringing sound occurred and it was a bit louder than the last one. This surprised Asch and then Luke hit the blade of Asch's blade again with his Zanpakuto for the third time and the ringing sound was louder. Luke hit Asch's sword three more time and the ringing sound was louder with each sound and with each sound that was louder it was annoying and disoriented Asch to the point that he couldn't concentrate.
"Damn you!" Asch said angrily.
Asch angrily swung his sword and Luke countered by blocking the Asch's sword with his own sword and caused another high pitch sound and with the seventh sound from the strike from Luke's blade, Asch's sword literally shook apart and it shattered. This surprised Asch as he stepped back and looked at his sword that was now broken. Asch was livid and looked at Luke was hatred.
"You damn dreck," Asch said, "What the hell did you do?"
Luke held up his Zanpakuto in front of him," My Zanpakuto is called Nanatsu no Oto. With each strike from my Zanpakuto, it resonates and produces a ringing sound. Each additional strike increases the effect and after seven strikes the object will literally shake itself apart which is what just happened with your sword. Of course me being the wielder, I'm the only one not affected by the ringing sound."
"That's quite a trick," Asch said, "I never thought you would be capable of doing something like this."
"I told you, I'm not the same as I was before," Luke said.
"…So it would seem," Asch replied.
"Luke!" A familiar male voice called.
Luke and Asch looked and saw six people heading towards Luke and Asch and it was Luke's classmates Guy, Ion, Senna, Momo, Renji, and Izuru. Ion and Guy were surprised to see who it was that facing Luke and it was a familiar face to the both of them.
"Luke, are you okay?" Senna asked with worried.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Luke replied.
The six classmates arrived and stood by Luke.
"Who the hell are you?" Renji asked as he the rest were facing Asch.
"Wait, doesn't he look like Luke?" Senna asked.
"Yes he does," Momo said.
"What the hell is going on?" Renji asked Luke, "You two are twins or something?"
Asch clenched his teeth at the interruption.
"So it is you Asch," Guy said with disdain.
"Asch, it's you," Ion said.
Renji, Momo, Izuru, and Senna were surprised and looked at Guy and Ion.
"Wait, do you know him?" Renji asked.
"Yeah we do," Guy said glaring at Asch.
"You," Izuru said looking at Asch, "you're an Arrancar, aren't you?"
"An Arrancar?" Momo said, "Wait, of course, we learned about them a few years ago, they are Hollows that gain Shinigami-like powers by removing their masks."
"So you all know what I am," Asch said.
"So you have fallen this low Asch," Guy said.
"Asch, why are you here?" Ion asked and then he shook his head, "No, there's no need to ask. You came here to kill Luke, right?"
"That's right," Asch admitted, "he's a stupid dreck that needs to be put down."
"You're still going with that?" Guy responded upset, "When are you going to giving a rest?"
"I will never give it a 'rest'," Asch replied, "and I won't rest until you pay as well Guy… for ending my life."
"Wait what?" Momo spoke as she, Izuru, Renji, and Momo were surprised.
"I'm not sorry what I did," Guy said to Asch, "as far as I'm concerned, you got what you deserved. You killed Luke in cold blood and I made sure you pay for killing my best friend."
"Guy," Luke spoke.
"I never did like you," Asch said.
"Yeah the same goes for me," Guy replied.
"That's only because you hated Duke Fabre," Asch said, "that's the true reason, someone who sought revenge for his home."
"Asch," Ion spoke.
"Fon Master Ion," Asch said, "or should I say, the seventh replica of the Fon Master Ion."
"Wait, what?" Luke spoke surprised.
"Seventh replica?" Guy spoke surprised as he looked at Ion.
"Fon Master?" Momo asked confused, "Replica?"
"Hey, do you guys know what they're talking about?" Izuru asked.
"Not a clue," Renji said, "Senna, what about you?"
"I have no idea," Senna said.
Guy and Ion drew their swords and pointed it at Asch.
"What is it going to be Asch?" Ion asked, "Do you plan to continue fighting?"
Asch narrowed his eyes and looked at his broken sword.
"I'll leave," Asch said, "but know that this isn't over. I will have my vengeance."
"Do you think that we're just going to let you leave?" Senna asked as she drew her sword.
"You're not going anyway Arrancar," Izuru stated.
"Oh yes I am," Asch said bitterly, "Icicle Rain!"
Shards of ice rained towards the seven sixth year students and they were all forced to either dodge them or deflect the ice shards with their swords. Asch used the opportunity to escape. The students tried to go after the Arrancar and soon it was clear that they had no luck as Asch was gone and they didn't even feel his Reiatsu.
"He got away," Luke said.
"Yes, we don't even feel his Reiatsu," Ion said.
"So it seems," Guy said and then he turned to Luke, "Luke, are you okay? How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine," Luke assured, "thanks for asking," Luke then turned to the others, "Everyone, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I went on my own. No doubt that you were all worried. I'm sorry for acting selfish."
"Luke," Senna said and then she smiled and gave Luke a hug, "don't worry about it."
"Senna," Luke said.
"I'm just glad you're okay," Senna said.
"Senna's right Luke," Izuru said and then he smiled, "besides, I don't think anyone of us is going to criticize you for your actions since we all kind did the same thing when we were first years."
"Yeah that's true and even here in the Human World for our own field training," Momo said smiling, "anyway I'm just glad that everything worked out in the end."
"That's true," Renji said smiling, "don't worry, we got your back."
Ion and Guy smiled and nodded in agreement. Luke looked at his friends and smiled and felt grateful.
"You guys are great friends," Luke said happily, "I'm very lucky to have friends like you."
"Ah Luke," Guy said with a grin rubbing the back of his head, "Come on now."
"This is just wonderful," Ion said with glee.
Not long afterwards, the sixth year students went to head back to the Senkaimon to head back to the Soul Society.
Seireitei, Soul Society
Seigen was in Yamamoto's office within the First Division Barracks with Yamamoto sitting down in his desk.
"So what did you want to see me about Captain Suzunami?" Yamamoto asked.
"I want to ask you about Yhwach," Seigen replied.
Yamamoto narrowed his eyes at the 10th Division Captain.
"Why do you want to know?" Yamamoto asked.
That's it for this chapter. Next chapter: Discussion of the origins and months later, graduation and entering the Gotei 13.
