Author's note: The name of this chapter is the German word for "The Shaping". And the reason for that is because of the subjects that it will revolve on. I don't own any of the characters. They belong to Tite Kubo. The original characters belong to me.
Chapter 30: Die Gestaltung
At the Squad 12 Base, the Sereitei, Soul Society
Having been paralyzed thanks to the actions of the Sternritter: NaNaNa Najakhoop, Sosuke Aizen finally gained consciousness from the spell he had been cast. He looked around and saw that there was no one standing on the top of the base, with the notable exception being Shunsui Kyoraku. The pink-clad Shinigami simply glanced at Aizen as she stood by the opened ceiling. To be frank, he was waiting for Aizen to wake up.
Shunsui smiled smugly. "Can't move anymore, can you?" he asked with sarcasm in his voice.
"It would have been funny if I said I could" Aizen simply replied before facing Shunsui with his left eye. "If you seek my death, then here is your chance" he then added to his statement.
"Don't take me for a fool. I would've already killed you if it were that easy" Shunsui noted while adjusting his hat. "Honestly, to survive an attack like that despite having your Spiritual Pressure kept at its minimum, only to keep you immobile for 5 minutes? That Quincy was definitely surprised" the head-captain noted in his statement.
Aizen only formed a smirk with his mouth. "What are you talking about? Being able to stop me for 5 minutes? I don't see any reason to feel sorry for yourself" the brown-haired man pointed out.
"You said it" Shunsui noted before glancing up to the skies. "Well, if what you're implying is true, about not being at your best, then be a good boy and stay here, won't you? At least until we have the doors, that is" the flamboyant Shinigami then requested of him.
Aizen could feel the many Spiritual Pressures underneath him and they varied. But he could come up with a summary to this: both Shinigamis and Quincies could be felt. This indicated only one thing in Aizen's mind.
"Shinigamis and Quincies working together" Aizen noted before watching facing Shunsui. "Are you going to protect the Soul Society as well?" he then questioned the head-captain.
Shunsui looked over his shoulder to face him. "No. We came to a realization that we have a common enemy. Therefore, we have decided to put our grudges behind us for now" the man with the ponytail told him.
While Aizen had been knocked out, the remaining Sternritters had approached the group of Shinigamis and offering to help them rebuild the doors from the scratch. They would do so by lending them their Spiritual Pressure. However, these Sternritters did not necessarily seek an alliance with the 13 Court Guard Squads. Rather, it was a partnership of convenience. To repay their services, the Shinigamis would take the Sternritters with them to the Royal Realm. Apparently, they had some unfinished business with their leader who had abandoned them in the battlefield. However, these Sternritters had also realized that Yhwach was a threat to them as well, and not just to the Shinigamis.
Aizen mused to himself as he had listened to what Shunsui told him. "So, the ones that stopped me will be the ones who will enter the Royal Realm before me?" Aizen asked before he was quickly reminded about someone. Yes, ever since his defeat, there was one man he held a particular grudge against. "You really are a man who is hard to forgive….Ichigo Kurosaki" he then noted, even gazing up towards the skies.
Shunsui looked at him and had begun to notice something with Aizen. "As I expected, he has no regrets committing all those treasonous acts. All that he cares about is himself and his delusional ideas" the head-captain noted before he also glanced up to the skies. "But based upon what he and Yhwach were talking about, Aizen is in complete denial about the existence of Augustus Zod Allowin. His arrogance clouds over his mind. All I can say is that Aizen will in time face his true judgement, but not in the form of Central 46" the pink-clad Shinigami noted in his head before jumping down to regroup with the rest of the Shinigamis.
This left Aizen alone by himself, and he was still looking up towards the sky, only for him to be interrupted by voices invading inside his head. These were voices belonging to those that he knew before.
"Do you think that your actions in Hueco Mundo has gone unnoticed? That is quite ignorant of you to believe in. Because right now, "he" knows of your actions against Hueco Mundo, including the abuse of its rightful power. And once "he" gets knowledge of you being alive…...he will come for you…and take what is rightfully his…then "he" will send you to the realm of eternal nightmares and torture: the Sea of Suffering…..which is worse than Hueco Mundo and Hell combined" the voice of Yhwach invaded his thoughts, which made him remind about the conversation he had with the Emperor of the Wandenreich weeks earlier.
"From now on, you will never exist in my memories. You will be nothing but distant nightmares. And truth be told…you're dead to me….and always has been. And why, you may wonder? Well that is because you didn't stop being my captain when you first stabbed me. Rather, you stopped being my captain when you first took me under your wing! That is what I believe it all began! Goodbye…..Aizen…and may you rot in Hell for all the sins you have committed" he still recalled the words Momo had told him, as she had declared her open rejection of his existence.
"You should think about the consequences of your actions, Aizen. In time, all the decisions you have chosen…...will come back to haunt you for the remainder of your life. And when that time comes…..you will actually for the first time in your life be begging for forgiveness" Urahara's voice invaded his thoughts once again.
As much as these voices plagued and swirled inside his thoughts, Aizen stubbornly refused to give in to them and merely brushed them off as empty warnings trying to ruin his plans. No, the brown-haired man had not yet given up on achieving what he really wanted: to rule the Soul Society in his own image. Therefore, he knew that he was now on his own. His plans to reach to the skies would come eventually.
"Why do I hold on to these memories of them, anyway?" Aizen asked in his head while forming a deep frown with his mouth. "I don't need to hear more stories…more warnings…more questions. I have achieved what no Shinigami can comprehend. Perfection is my destiny" he then added to his thoughts, never feeling at least concerned about those conversations he had with each of these individuals.
On one of the five floating cities, the Royal Realm, Soul Society
After being shot down from the Soul King's Palace by Uryu Ishida, Ichigo Kurosaki and his group of friends were now falling down towards the Sereitei far below. But he suddenly found himself landing on Orihime's Santen Kesshun, although he also collided with Ganju Shiba's head. While they were floating towards in the air, Yoruichi and Tessai had used the flight device to one of the five floating cities and they caught the Santen Kesshun with harpoon-like ropes. Thereafter, the group had begun recuperating on this floating city, yet Ichigo was the only one still being unconscious.
Ichigo's eyes slowly opened and he could see that everyone was present. "Hey…is everyone okay?" Ichigo asked lowly. But he still felt pain inside his head and began rubbing it with his hand. "Damn….my head hurts bad! Did I hit my head on something?" he asked while holding onto his sore head.
Orihime was now treating Yoruichi and Ganju's injuries, while Tessai was currently examining the injuries that Jinta had sustained from Haschwalth's sword with cotton. Only Orihime, Chad and Ururu seemed to be doing fin, considering that they didn't sustain any serious injuries.
"Well, you and I did land on the same spot on the platform with our heads. So maybe that's the reason why your head still hurts" Ganju then told him as he was healed by Orihime. "Sorry, by the way" he then apologized.
Ichigo smiled when he hears this. "Eh it's no big deal. I think I also owe you an apology. Just so that we're even" he said while apologizing to Ganju.
Chad smiled when seeing his friend being awake. "We're glad to see that you're awake, Ichigo" Chad said while giving him a thumb gesture. "After you landed on the platform, you fell into unconsciousness for a short while" he then pointed out.
Ururu saluted in return. "And I'm perfectly fine, with no injuries whatsoever" she said, although it was difficult to tell whether she meant it or not.
"Yeah, all thanks to me, that is!" Jinta remarked with sarcasm in his voice before wincing in pain. Tessai was now using cotton to treat his injuries "ARRRRGHHH! TAKE IT SLOW, WILL YA!?" he angrily snapped at the tanned-skinned man.
"Keep it down, Jinta! You're making too much noise!" Tessai hushed him in return.
Ichigo smiled by what he saw seeing, feeling relieved that his friends were still alive. But the orange-haired man was then reminded about what had happened, especially since Uryu had prevented him from stopping Yhwach in taking Mimihagi. Ichigo also began to think about the words that Uryu had told him back in the Soul King's Palace and it plagued his mind.
"Uryu.…...I don't know what you were trying to say back in the palace. But because of what you have done, you and I are enemies from now on!" Ichigo noted in his head while clenching his fists tightly. "You have chosen your path…...I have also done that!" he added to his thoughts, vowing to fight Uryu for real the next time they met.
Chad began looking around and watched the cityscape they were currently standing in. "What is this place? There is nobody around here" the tall man asked as he saw none. He had taken notice of the fact that the place was awfully quiet.
"Obviously, this must be one of the five quarters belonging to the members of the Royal Guard" Yoruichi replied to Chad. Her golden eyes narrowed in the process. "But you are onto something there, Chad. These streets seem so…...empty. Where are all the upper nobles and citizens that lives in these districts? Did they die during the invasion?" the purple-haired woman added to her question.
"I don't know what you all think, but I'm happy that we're all alive" Ganju remarked and suddenly glanced up to the skies. "Strange. Even now, I can feel the world no longer being in disharmony. What happened in the Soul King's Palace? I mean, isn't he dead?" the long-haired man asked while even taking a glance upon the palace, which was high above from the group's standpoint.
Orihime did the same thing. "Now that you mention it, it does feel kind of odd in the atmosphere" the orange-haired woman remarked in return.
"Blah, blah, blah! Who cares about this stinking place!?" the impatient voice came from Jinta, as he was now holding what remained of his kanabo. It was broken and the teenage boy even had tears streaming from his eyes. "My kanabo's broken! How am I supposed to get it fixed?" he sniffed while glancing at his destroyed favorite weapon.
Tessai sighed in annoyance when hearing Jinta rant about his weapon. "Foolish boy. You haven't even activated the kanabo's durability mode! No wonder why it broke so easily!" he scolded the red-haired boy before pulling the ring at the bottom of the kanabo's grip. As he did that, the once broken kanabo suddenly transformed into the shape Jinta was used to, except for the fact that it was covered in metal and had spikes on all sides. The young boy gasped in disbelief when seeing this. "There. Better?" the tanned-skinned man asked Jinta.
"Better, my ass!" Jinta snapped at him in outrage. "You mean to tell me that you knew all of this, yet didn't bother letting me know!?" he angrily asked Tessai.
The Shinigami adjusted his glasses. "Oh please, I did tell you back in Hueco Mundo that the boss had made improvements on your kanabo, didn't I?" he pointed out.
"Yet you never showed me how it worked!" Jinta snapped in return by what he was hearing.
All the others merely watched with raised eyebrows about Jinta throwing his tantrums. But it stopped when Yoruichi rose up on her feet to gain everyone's attention. "Alright, break it up! We've got more important things to focus on than a kanabo!" she sternly told them while flexing her left arm, as it had regrown thanks to Orihime's healing. "Now how about we plan on counterattacking?" she then suggested to everyone.
"Yoruichi is right" Tessai said in return while holding his staff. "As of now, we are on a tight schedule here. And more importantly, we don't know long this platform will stay together" the tanned-skinned man remarked while looking around the environment.
"A counterattack?" Ganju asked while stretching out his regrown right arm. He then looked up to the Soul King's Palace "Sorry to burst your bubble, but that's easier said than done. I mean, how the hell are we gonna get all the way up there?" he then pointed out.
Ichigo rose on his feet and walked to Ganju's side while looking up at the building. "Ganju has a point. It's quite far from down here. But I could try making some footholds with my Spiritual Pressure" he suggested before looking at Chad and Orihime. "Hey Orihime, you, Chad and the others could use your Santen Kesshun to give yourselves a lift up" the orange-haired man then suggested to his friends.
"Sounds great and all, but what if we get attacked?" Orihime asked with a hint of concern in her voice. "The Quincies could use the disadvantages we have and bring us down. And let us not forget that they have a sharpshooter among them. One powerful shot can destroy my platform" the orange-haired woman then explained.
"You're correct, Orihime. We really are at a disadvantage here" Chad said while looking up to the palace.
"No need to worry! I just happen to have the perfect solution to this problem" Yoruichi's voice interrupted them all, as she was standing before a space while holding a remote in her hand. "Open up" she said and pushed the button on the remote. All of a sudden, a Garganta was slowly opening, much to everyone's surprise. Yoruichi had used the remote to open the Garganta and it began showing something inside of it.
Ichigo was surprised to see the Garganta being made so far as the Royal Realm. However, he could feel a very familiar Spiritual Pressure coming out as the gate opened up further. The Substitute Shinigami was stunned, as his eyes caught something standing in the opening. Standing in the Garganta was someone he had not expected to ever see again: the former Sexta Espada: Grimmjow Jeagerjacquez!
"You're…Grimmjow!?" Ichigo asked in disbelief by seeing the Arrancar he had once fought against.
The blue-haired Arrancar was facing down for a brief moment, before he fixed his feline-like eyes on Ichigo. The moment their eyes caught, a psychotic and delighted grin crept across Grimmjow's face. This only indicated that he was finally pleased to see Ichigo again.
"Hey. Long time no see, Ichigo Kurosaki" he said and jumped out of the Garganta and landed on a boulder not far from Ichigo's standpoint. The grin on his face never faded away. "How many years has it been? Looks like the scars you got from me have healed already" he noted smugly while glancing at his most desired opponent.
Ichigo remained calm while facing the Arrancar, even though he had never expected to run into him again. "Of course, they have healed. You're looking well yourself" he replied back with a cautious voice.
Grimmjow only shrugged his shoulders. "Heh! You thought I died back in Las Noches, didn't ya?" Grimmjow noted before pulling out his Zanpakutou, unleashing his strong Spiritual Pressure, which even astounded Ichigo. He began to wonder whether he had grown more powerful since their last encounter. Without hesitating, Ichigo grabbed his Zanpakutous and stood ready to fight the ex-Espada. Grimmjow only mused by seeing this. "As if I would die to someone as pathetic as Nnoitora! Not without killing you first! I've waited all this time….SO I COULD GET SOME PAYBACK FOR MY DEFEAT!" Grimmjow then exclaimed, his lust for battle getting hold over him.
Ichigo was about to ready himself, only to hear another familiar voice calling to him. "ICHIGOOOOO!" Grimmjow was pushed to the ground as Nelliel Tu Odelschwank launched herself at the orange-haired man, who was caught by Nelliel's grip. "I'VE MISSED YOU SO MUCH!" the sea green-haired woman exclaimed gleefully. She then caught Ichigo and rolled onto the ground. Her appearance surprised the orange-haired man.
"What the…...Nel!?" Ichigo asked out in disbelief as he could see her Hollow-shell no longer being cut, and that she now wore clothes, as well as a strange cape. "Nel.…...what happened to you!?" the young man then asked while being stunned.
Nelliel giggled. "It's a very long story, but I now managed to get back into my true form. I will stay like this from now on. That means that I can help you now!" she then told him, her smile never fading away. "But enough of that, I'm just so glad that I got to see you again!" she said while squealing against Ichigo one more time, the young man confused by what was happening.
Orihime could not help but to chuckle nervously. "Heh, I always knew that she would react like this" she remarked, although she tried her best not to look so jealous in front of her friends.
Jinta grinned mischievously when seeing Ichigo getting hugged by Nelliel. "Keep up the good work, Nelliel! Make sure that Ichigo gets turned on so that he'll start mastur…EYOUCH!" Jinta was interrupted by Ururu punching him in his stomach, much to his agony. "WHAT THE HELL, URURU!? I'M TRYING TO RECOVER FROM MY INJURY!" he angrily snapped at her.
Ururu merely crossed her arms while huffing, something which made Tessai smile in amusement. He even gave her a thumb gesture. "Splendid work, Ururu! You have my gratitude!" he then commended her.
But all this fun was interrupted by the angry voice from Grimmjow, as he got up on his head while rubbing his head "Damnit, Nelliel! What the hell was that for!?" he asked while fixing his eyes upon Nelliel. "Now get lost! You're in my way!" he then demanded from the Dechado.
Nelliel focused her attention on him, her eyes completely different from those she gave Ichigo. "I could say the same thing to you. If you're gonna start a fight when we're already in one, I suggest that you make yourself scarce" she sternly told him. "And besides, I don't recall having to take orders from a Legionario like you, or should I perhaps say a number 6 in your case?" the young women then pointed out to Grimmjow.
Grimmjow only scoffed at her words. "You bonehead! Aizen's not schooling us anymore, so those numbers don't mean shit!" he spat back with his usual rude language. He then began taking small steps towards Nelliel. "So in that case, why don't we try it out then!? Let's see which of us deserves to be a Dechado!" he then suggested with lust for fighting taking hold on him.
Nelliel remained unfazed by seeing this. "Don't force my hand, Grimmjow. You'll only end up embarrassing yourself!" Nelliel pointed out sternly.
"Grimmjow…...Nelliel" Ichigo tried to prevent the two from confronting one another, although Grimmjow was the aggressor in this case. "Why are both of you…" the Substitute Shinigami was stunned when he heard an unfamiliar voice coming out from the Garganta.
"Enough of this foolishness!" the voice came from a one-eyed Arrancar, whose skin was red as the devil itself. He wore a cape similar to Nelliel. In addition, he held a long scythe in his right hand that acted as his Zanpakutou. Ichigo did not know him, but his friends knew him as the Dechado: Diablo Gallante. He was being accompanied by two hooded Arrancars, one stout and one skinny. The Arrancar with the cover over his mouth and white horn as his Hollow-shell glanced at both Nelliel and Grimmjow. "Remember what I told you. No fighting amongst protectors of El Dorado" Gallante sternly told them.
While Grimmjow merely scoffed while putting his hands in his pockets, Nelliel immediately bowed her head in shame towards Gallente. "Forgive me, Gallante. I fully accept my responsibility in this kafuffle" the young woman replied in return.
Ichigo's eyes widened by what he was seeing. This was an Arrancar he had never seen before. And there was something else about the Spiritual Pressure that dwelled inside of him. The orange-haired man wondered if he was a former Espada in the service of Aizen, yet like Nelliel, was betrayed and left to die in Hueco Mundo's wastes.
"Who are…you?" Ichigo finally opened his mouth, thus catching Gallante's attention.
Gallante fixed his only eye upon the orange-haired man, starting to feel the enormous Spiritual Pressure inside the Substitute Shinigami. "I see. You must be the Substitute Shinigami: Ichigo Kurosaki. Your reputation stretches even to our glorious Imperio de Hierro" he said in return, only making Ichigo and the others more stunned. Gallante then bowed his head at him in a gentle manner. "I am one of the Dechados: Paragon Diablo Gallante. Pleased to be of acquaintance" he introduced himself before moving on to Yoruichi and Tessai.
The purple-haired woman's golden eyes widened in surprise as he took steps towards them. "This isn't right…" she said lowly while clenching her fists tightly. "What the hell are you doing here!?" she angrily demanded from him. "This was not part of our agreement!" Yoruichi then pointed a finger at him.
Gallante's only eye narrowed slightly. "Do not insult my intelligence, Yoruichi Shihoin. We were all there when you and your "leader" approached His Highness with his request. Urahara asked that if he could borrow our ability. His Highness agreed to, but only if one of his most trusted soldiers was allowed to act as an observer. And here I am" Gallante explained, before suddenly glancing at a small needle being stuck in the middle of the ground. "And I see that you managed to plant the device on the right spots. Impressive" he then started commending Yoruichi, who only glared at him with annoyance in return.
"Excuse me…..Gallante, was it?" the Dechado turned around to see Ichigo standing there with a determined glance on his face. "I may not know who you are, but I really don't care. Right now, the objective of me and my team is to find a way back to the Soul King's Palace. We can't afford to waste more time" the orange-haired man said.
Gallante only fixed a smug glance in return and even pointed his finger at the Garganta, which was still open. "The answer to your problems lies inside that Garganta. Just go in and see for yourself. Pesche, Dondochakka, help these people into the box" he commanded the two hooded Arrancars, as they removed their hoods.
But instead of showing their Hollow-masks, the group of friends were treated to seeing the true faces of Nelliel's Fracciòn. Pesche Guatiche was that of a long-blonde-haired man with his Hollow-shell being a horn on his left side of his head, as well as the purple curtain over his eye. But his only visible eye was yellow. Dondochakka Birstanne was that of a bald-headed and brown-skinned man with black dotted eyes. His only Hollow-shell was the big nose of his that belonged to his mask and it was quite big. Nevertheless, both Arrancars remained the same in terms of physique.
"Howdy, kids! How have you all been!?" Pesche asked out loudly in his goofy manner as always. But that is until he got a glimpse of Ichigo, which led to him acting so perceptive. "Strange. I don't recall Ichigo Kurosaki being THIS tall" the blonde-haired man then pointed out.
"Aw great! They just had to bring along the morons!" Jinta thought head with dispassion. Ganju and Grimmjow were also having similar thoughts about this.
Ichigo was dumbfounded. "Pesche…Dondochakka….is that really you?" he asked, only to see Pesche and Dondochakka doing poses together.
"Damn straight! It's good to have the mask taken off for a while!" Dondochakka exclaimed while feeling very confident in himself. The same thing could be said for Pesche.
Nelliel giggled by seeing them like this. "You two will always be my pride and joy!" she noted in her head while watching her Fracciòn.
"Are we gonna go are what!?" the impatient and girly voice came from none other than Riruka Dokugamine, as the young girl was standing at the opening of the Garganta alongside Yukio Hans Voralberna. Ichigo was surprised to see the two Fullbringers from Xcution standing there "The enemy could spot us at any minute! Now hurry your asses up and get inside!" Riruke snapped.
Yukio only glanced at her unenthusiastic. "Why are you so upset all of a sudden?" the young blonde-haired boy asked while sighing, not getting what her deal was. "I'm starting to have second thoughts about joining this circus" he then admitted.
The Substitute Shinigami walked towards the Garganta. "Riruka, Yukio, what are you guys doing here?" he asked, only to notice that the two Fullbringers were standing on a stairway. This stairway lead to a black box that was running on a white track inside the Garganta. Ichigo became intrigued. "And what's that box for?" he then asked while observing the thing in the space.
"Well, it's a long story" Yukio then replied. "But it's one of my many abilities, that I can confirm" the young boy added to his answer.
"Mine too!" Riruka snapped, although Yukio ignored her tantrums. "Hey! What's the big idea ignoring me like that!?" she then demanded, although the young boy didn't seem to care.
Gallante approached them with the Arrancars at his side. "Do not leave your posts, Fullbringers. You are the key to this transformation system" the red-skinned Arrancar told them and both Riruka and Yukio walked up the stairs to open the black box. They were the first to enter, followed by the group of Arrancars. Ichigo was not sure about how to respond to this.
"What is really going on here?" Ichigo asked, as Yoruichi appeared beside him.
"I'll explain everything to you once we're inside" Yoruichi said to Ichigo and fixed her golden eyes on the rest of the group. "Alright, everyone! We're going inside that black box. It will take us to the Soul King's Palace without getting noticed" she then told them and Chad, Orihime and the others complied with her order.
All the group entered the box and noticed that it was full of technology on the inside. There was one seat for Yukio, considering that he was the one driving this box on the white tracks. Some of the seats inside looked like those belonging to ships and most people took what they could find. However, Ichigo was now having a conversation with both Yoruichi and Tessai, as he wanted to know what was really happening.
"Well, Ichigo? What would you want me to tell you now?" Yoruichi asked.
Ichigo only scratched behind his neck. "I was actually gonna say everything. But I'll ask Orihime, Chad, Nel and Grimmjow later. I don't have time to get stressed as I already got enough shit to worry about, anyways" he said in return, before looking around in the box. "But what I really want you to hear from you two is how in the world were you able to make something like this inside a Garganta" Ichigo then said while glancing around curiously.
Tessai mused underneath his moustache. "I knew that you would say something like that. Your mind has matured a lot since I last saw you, Ichigo" the he noted in return. "In fact, we refrained from telling you all this, considering that you were busy training in the Royal Realm and journeying to the Sereitei. But you can withstand that, right?" he then asked smugly.
Ichigo only scoffed at Tessai's words dismissively. "Pfft, showoff" he muttered in return.
"I guess we just have to start from the beginning" Yoruichi said before clearing her throat. "As you may know, the Soul Society and the Human World is connected by the Precipice World" she said while Ichigo nodded his head in return, indicating that he knew it. "And around the Precipice World are these little pockets called the Valley of Screams, which become the gathering ground for Souls that have escaped. That's where the Garganta comes in to fill in those little voids" the purple-haired woman explained.
Ichigo's eyes widened in surprise. "You know now that I think about it, I remember Urahara telling me something about the Valley of Screams a long time ago. I think it was after my first trip into the Soul Society" the orange-haired man remarked as he heard this.
Tessai nodded his head in return. "Yes. You have passed through these a few times yourself, so you are probably aware. But a Garganta is something that has an unsteady Spiritual Pressure is always releasing it to make its own path. If it doesn't do so, it won't have a means of moving" the tanned-skinned man then explained to Ichigo. "And brings us back to talk about the Valley of Screams. That place has for some reason, remained there as some sort of Reishi storage unit" he then added to his explanation.
"What do you mean?" Ichigo asked while listening closely.
"What he means is that some people deduce that it was probably because of the structure of its own Reishi that has kept the Valley of Screams there. Kisuke plans on using this whole thing, which is why he required the assistance of everyone standing here, including those two Fullbringers" Yoruichi answered while looking over at Riruka and Yukio. "The power to control space at his own will with only electricity and the ability to freely move people and objects in to or out of anything that she adores" she then remarked while even forming a smug smile.
Yukio lifted up his head from his PSP and faced the group who was speaking to him. Riruka however, only huffed while crossing her arms. Apparently, they did not seem too fond of being sought out by Urahara. But as they previously said, they only agreed to help him because the Quincies were a threat to them all, not because they loved the Soul Society and its system. The magenta-haired girl fixed her eyes upon Ichigo.
"We used my powers to move a whole Valley of Screams into a box like this! Sounds kind of batshit crazy, but it's true" Riruka explained while not giving so much thought about this.
"Once we did that, we changed the box into a room with some rails with my powers. I don't really know how we did it, but whatever" Yukio joined in the conversation.
Yoruichi then stretched out her arms for Ichigo to see. "And that, is how we're in this box" she told Ichigo smugly before fixing a frown. She even pulled out a nail that was quite similar to the one that was standing at the place they came from. "While it was a success, it's movements are fairly restricted. What it can do right now is move between here and the Soul King's Palace, or at least until I put the nail into the ground" she explained seriously. But Yoruichi quickly formed a smug smile while glancing at Ichigo. "But with this, we could get into the enemy's base without letting a single bit of Spiritual Pressure slip. So let us spring an attack on them, Ichigo" she then explained.
While he heard this, Ichigo could not help but to form a smug smile in return. "Always so smug. We'll take all those bastards out in one go!" the orange-haired man said.
When he felt like the time to go was tight, Yukio pushed some buttons and the black box began running on the white track while being inside the Garganta. The speed of the box was relatively fast and it surprised Ichigo and his group.
"Well, this is gonna be one hell of a ride" Yukio noted to himself.
"So…...now what?" Jinta asked while resting his hands behind his neck
Tessai adjusted his glasses. "We will keep moving until we have reached the Soul King's Palace. Once we are there, we will ambush the enemy" he explained sternly.
"While me and Tessai were working on the barrier around the Soul King, I put a nail identical to the one I just showed you near him, just in case" Yoruichi revealed to them all smugly. "As long as they haven't noticed it, we'll be able to reach the palace without any hindrances" the purple-haired woman added to her explanation, while Ichigo, Chad, Orihime and the others listened.
Ururu made a salute to her in return. "I got it" she said.
"There is something I've been wondering about, though" Chad spoke up to his comrades. "What powers does that guy in the hooded cape have? The one that attacked you and Ganju. We couldn't see well form where we were" the tall man added to his explanation
Yoruichi formed a frown when she heard that. "I don't even know that myself to be honest. Our arms broke, just when the Quincy merely glanced at us" she noted warily.
"You got that right. Whatever that thing is, I suggest we stay far away from it as possible. I can't afford to lose an arm a second time" Ganju suggested to his friends and took a glance at Ururu. "Hell, you're pretty lucky to have not been taken by it" the long-haired man then said while facing the teenage girl.
"But that hooded Quincy was not the only one who proved to be a challenge. There is also that blonde-haired man who slashed Jinta" Orihime pointed out. "I'm glad that I intervened just in time to save you. If not, you would've died" the orange-haired woman said.
Ururu smiled by what she was hearing and nodded her head in return. "Yes. Thank you so much, Orihime" she replied back with kindness.
Orihime then took a deep breath before letting it out. "It appears that we underestimated the Quincies' tenacity" she noted to her friends.
"FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!" the short-tempered voice came from Riruka, and everyone looked at her with raised eyebrows. "I don't even get why you are having this conversation! If what's done is done, then why don't you stop being depressed over some crap that was already over!?" she asked out loud while facing them.
The group of friends merely glanced at them confused, not understanding what her deal was, as Riruka was known to be a misunderstood girl. Someone was even starting to have some distaste in her already. The magenta-haired girl was filed with disbelief.
"COME ON! WHAT ARE YOU SO…" Riruka was interrupted by
"Will you just can it already!?" Jinta asked while scratching his slick hair. "We're trying to get some relaxation before the battle, so put a cork in your mouth!" the red-haired boy asked in annoyance.
Yukio silently mused to himself when he heard Jinta's words. "Hmmm, tell me about it" he then said lowly.
"Jinta's right, the least thing we need is some loudmouthed brat yapping until our ears start bleeding" Ganju pointed out, confirming that he also was dissatisfied by hearing Riruka's overreaction.
Despite hearing these harsh words, Riruka only huffed and looked at another direction. "Pfft…assholes" she cursed lowly underneath her breath.
Ichigo suddenly looked up to the seat where the Arrancars were sitting at and he could see Gallante, Grimmjow and the others. "Hey you" the orange-haired man asked them and they turned their attentions to him. "What made you wanna come to our side in this battle?" he asked them, wanting to get an answer from one of them.
Grimmjow glared at him dispassionately when he heard those words. "Your side? Don't get the wrong idea, fuckwit! We're on our side in this battle" the aggressive man rudely replied in return. "If we Arrancars let that bastard Yhwach do as he pleases, he'll destroy Hueco Mundo" he then said.
"As much as I hate to agree with him, Grimmjow speaks the truth" Gallante said as he jumped down from his seat and glanced at Ichigo with his only eye. Ichigo had slowly started to get curious about the red-skinned man. "While I won't go into detail, I will tell you this. We of the Imperio de Hierro will fight the Wandenreich on our own terms. As such, we will never aid the Soul Society, let alone their poor excuse for a Court Guard" Gallante told him as he listened. "The Shinigamis are just as guilty for this world's state as the Quincies are. However, you are merely a Substitute Shinigami. But that is not the sole reason why I have chosen to accompany on this trip as an observer of His Highness" he revealed thus surprising Ichigo, as well as some of his friends. "Nelliel…she is alive thanks to your actions, Ichigo Kurosaki. If not for you, she and her Fracciòn would've been left to die in the wastes of Hueco Mundo. Instead of killing them like an ordinary Shinigami would have done, you chose to help them back on their track. For that, you have my respect" he said with a brief nod before heading back to his seat.
Nelliel was surprised by what he was hearing and the young woman could not help but to smile while seeing her fellow Dechado take his seat beside her. "Thank you for doing this for me, Gallante. I assure you that Ichigo is not who you really think he is" she said, knowing that Gallante still felt wary about Ichigo, despite her vouching for him.
"Hey Ichigo, one more thing. There's a reason why I'm here" Grimmjow said. "If Hueco Mundo vanishes, where am I supposed to kill you?" the aggressive man then said.
Hearing this forced a smug smile on Ichigo's face, knowing very well that Grimmjw had not given up on beating him. But he also liked about the fact that the blue-haired man knew about common courtesy, as he was able to save his thirst for Ichigo's blood later.
At the Soul King's Palace
While Haschwalth, Uryu and the Schutzstaffel were resting in the palace's quarters beneath him, Yhwach was now doing the most unthinkable. He was now absorbing the Soul King, taking everything, including his powers into him. As he had finally completed his ritual, Yhwach only stood there, never moving a muscle. However, he did in fact look down upon the diagram where his father had once been kept inside. A smile crept underneath his moustache.
"At last" Yhwach finally said as he even raised up his right hand and clenched it. "We are finally one, father. You have nothing to fear. All that is before us now…...is peace and tranquility" the long-haired man uttered out those sentences lowly.
As Yhwach was standing there, he could feel someone enter the hall he was standing in, yet he didn't bother to even turn around. He knew who it was that had entered. It was not his loyal children, the Sternritters. Rather, it was a group of 10 white-hooded individuals, who all varied in size. However, they still wore the same outfit, which was also included a white cape. As they all gathered in a ring around Yhwach, they kneeled before him. In fact, they even pulled out what no one had expected them to have: Zanpakutous. They each held a katana in their hands while kneeling before the Quincy.
"Behold, brothers and sisters!" one of the hooded individuals spoke up with an elderly voice. "Behold, the return of our glorious messiah. The return of the Soul King!" he added with a declaration to this event.
Yhwach chuckled when he heard this declaration. "I have been expecting you, my newborn knights" he said, never turning around to look at them, still glancing towards the distance. "I was told about your emergence by my father's Right Hand itself. How glad I am that so many of you have answered the true call of the Soul King" the long-haired man said.
The one who had said the declaration rose up to his feet and pulled back his Zanpakutou. "My lord, the commandments have been sent across the realms. Soon, all shall know the birth of a new Soul Society and your glorious return. No longer will this realm be ruled by cowardly nobles and weak-minded orders. The leadership will belong to you and you alone, as it was meant to be" the hooded man spoke, feeling so confident about his master.
"I am flattered" Yhwach replied to his words, never looking over his shoulder. "Now I see that there are only 10 of you standing here. Have you found the three last ones yet?" the emperor then asked them.
The hooded-man nodded his head in return. "Yes. The Grandmaster has already given us three likely candidates that will serve us well. They shall be the last we need to finish the remaking of your new order of knights. But that requires time" the hooded-man said in return. However, he didn't seem to be finished speaking. "Still, there is without doubt many awakened ones who have embraced the truth. As such, followers to your cause are garantueed" he then assured the emperor.
Yhwach formed a smiled underneath his moustache. "I see. But we can wait. We have all the time that we need" he said in a satisfying manner, indicating that he was proud over hearing the progress so far. "In the meantime, I may also start revising the plans for our new world. The Wandenreich shall reign supreme in the Soul Society" he then added. "Now go. Spread the message to those incompetent fools that dwells on these surrounding platforms. Let them know of their true ruler's return. And if they refuse to accept my authority…slay them. That is my word" he told them with no remorse for what he just said.
The hooded-man bowed his head as the rest of the hooded people got up on their feet and did the same thing. "Yes, Soul King. Your wish is our command" he said before they all vanished into shadows, leaving Yhwach behind in this room.
The long-haired man was standing there, having never once turned around to look at the group of hooded people. He was now covered in oozed darkness with so many white eyes and it was a twisted look of the Emperor of the Wandenreich. "It is time, Haschwalth. Come here and bring Uryu and the Schutzstaffel along with you. The re-shaping will commence soon" he sent this to the Sternritter Grandmaster via telepathy. He even began releasing the true extent of his powers, which he had gained by absorbing the Soul King. He was now destined to create a new world for his followers.
Inside a black box, in the Garganta
The black box was still moving on the white tracks inside the Garganta and it was almost time for the group inside to leave the box. Even now, they had begun preparations and were ready to exit the box, as well as the Garganta.
"We're almost there. Are you ready?" Yoruichi asked the group while looking at the door that would take them out of the box.
Ichigo held onto his Zanpakutou while narrowing his eyes. "I sure am" he said lowly in return, indicating that he was dead-serious about this. He would fight them all: Yhwach, Haschwalth and even Uryu. That was his decision.
Yukio glanced at the group who was ready with his usual lazy and unenthusiastic expression. Apparently, he was not amused by what he was seeing. "Let me just be clear with you all" he then spoke up from his seat, thus catching their attentions. "I'm not moving an inch from this seat, so you guys just go on this crazy rampage without me, okay?" he then said to them.
While some of the group furrowed eyebrows by hearing Yukio's words, Ganju was outraged and even offended by the words the boy just said. "Hey! What's with that attitude of yours, kid!?" Ganju barked and approached Yukio, who only glanced at him with his usual disinterested expression. "I don't know who you are, but I…." the long-haired man was interrupted.
"It's funny, because I don't know who you are either" Yukio flatly replied, much to Ganju's outrage.
Chad raised an eyebrow while seeing this. "I thought everyone got to know each other while being inside this box" remarked to his friends.
"Well, you know Yukio. He's not much of a talker" Orihime nervously remarked in return.
Ganju was still filled with disbelief over hearing Yukio's attitude. "I may not know you, but let me ask you this: we're all fighting for our lives here, but what's this crap about not moving an inch!?" he then asked the young boy.
Yukio sighed in annoyance when he heard this. "Look, I basically got dragged into this mess against my own will. Therefore, I have no obligation in participating in this rampaging crusade" the blonde-haired boy said to Ganju, who was still not satisfied with his words.
"Fighting with obligation isn't the same as fighting for your life!" Ganju strictly pointed out. "Hiding in this box won't help you! If we all die, everything will disappear! Everything, I tell ya!" the long-haired man added to his words.
Yukio narrowed his eyes at him. "So, you're saying that you will lose?" he then asked him, which snapped Ganju.
Before he could continue, Ichigo surprisingly intervened and pushed Ganju aside. He sighed deeply while doing that. "Just cut it out, Ganju. There's no point in throwing him under the bus now" the young man told him before fixing his eyes on Yukio. "Yukio, you stay here, okay?" he then asked him kindly.
"Tch, that's what I've been saying the whole time" Yukio flatly pointed out.
Ichigo nodded at him with a smile before facing Riruka. "You should stay here as well, Riruka" he told the young girl who snapped in outrage over hearing this. The Substitute Shinigami still looked at her with a reassuring smile. "Your powers will only make the coming battle more dangerous, so it's best if you remained here" the orange-haired boy then said his reasoning.
But Riruka was still not convinced. "What the hell are you talking about!? I've been there before! I know the Valley of Screams!" the magenta-haired girl snapped back at him.
Ichigo only mused to himself while hearing this. "For someone that only cares for the cute and keeps whatever she finds cute, there's no way you would keep it after seeing it" he remarked before smiling at the young girl. "But still, you did it for us, didn't you? Tanks a lot" Ichigo then thanked her, much to Riruka's own surprise.
But the young girl in her rabbit-like hoodie only huffed in return, evens trying to hide some red cheeks. "I…...I didn't do it for you…...just so we're clear!" she then insisted to him in a stubborn way.
Ichigo nodded his head in return. "I know. And that is why I would like to ask you for one more favor. Could you please stay here with Yukio? Protect him so that we can escape when the time comes, if you know what I mean" he then requested of her.
Riruka sighed deeply after she heard this request. "Fine…" she replied, much to the satisfaction of Ichigo.
"Hey Ichigo" the young man heard the voice of Ganju coming from behind. He looked over his shoulder to face the long-haired man. "I can't believe I'm saying this…..but you've grown a lot" he admitted to him.
Ichigo furrowed brows when hearing Ganju's words. "You think so?" he asked, before forming a smug smile at him in return. "Well, you've gotten braver, Ganju. I really admire your willpower to come along with me" he then said while commending Ganju.
Ganju only shrugged his shoulders in return. "Nice try, dandelion-head" he said with sarcasm in his voice and Ichigo knew that his words were filled with sarcasm, as did his friends.
While they were finished, Gallante then stood with both Nelliel and Grimmjow, and they were facing Ichigo and his group of friends. "Now that you're approaching the battlefield, I will leave Nelliel and Grimmjow in your care, Ichigo Kurosaki" he revealed as the two Arrancars joined up with the group. Gallante narrowed his only eye. "But mark my words, young one. I am not letting Nelliel, who is a Dechado, assist you because I think of you as a hero. I am doing this out of respect for you saving her life" the red-skinned Arrancar then told him.
Ichigo looked at Nelliel, who was smiling at him in return and Grimmjow, who only poked his ear to pretend he wasn't listening or interested. He then faced the red-skinned man and nodded at him in return. "Thank you, Diablo Gallante. I will honor this agreement" Ichigo then said with formality in his voice.
"What's this? Aren't you coming along with us?" Yoruichi asked him smugly.
"As I told you earlier, the Imperio de Hierro has no interest in helping the 13 Court Guard Squads. And I, with His Highness' blessing, are only letting Nelliel help this Human out of respect for his actions. And do not forget, the Substitute Shinigami is not a part of the Court Guard" Gallante replied to her flatly.
"You speak of this "Highness". Who is….." Ichigo's question was interrupted by Nelliel holding her hand. The young man could see her shaking her head as a no. Seeing how the expression on her face meant that he should not be asking more demands from someone like Gallante, Ichigo understood and lowly bowed to the Dechado. "Sorry, forget I said anything" he then said.
Gallante nodded his head at him. "Wise words, Ichigo" he said before fixing his only visible eye upon Yoruichi and Tessai. "We heard that you Shinigamis plan on storming the Royal Realm and defeat Yhwach. Do you honestly think that waltzing straight into the unknown will guarantee a victory? Your strategy is flawed" the man with the scythe then commented.
Tessai adjusted his glasses in return. "And what do you mean by that?" he robustly asked the Arrancar.
This time, Gallante glanced over at Chad and Orihime, indicating that he wanted to talk with them. "Yasutora Sado and Orihime Inoue. In light of the events that has transpired, do you still believe that Killaman's visions are false?" he then asked them. The Fullbringer and the Interminable both snapped in shock over hearing this. Gallante could see that they knew what he was talking about and decided to continue with his subject. "Think carefully. Uryu Ishida joining the Wandenreich, Ichigo Kurosaki slashing the Soul King, these were some of the visions that you were told would happen in the future…and they did" he added to his words.
"That doesn't make a difference!" Yoruichi interrupted in outrage, yet the Dechado remained unfazed. "You think we're gonna take everything seriously just because your own seer says this!? You are delusional!" the purple-haired woman snapped in defiance.
The Arrancar with the eyepatch and cover over his mouth sighed deeply and returned to his seat. "Very well. If you Shinigamis are holding onto your pride, then do as you wish. However, I can tell you all this:" Gallante said as he took his seat. "All of you are only walking right into a viper's nest. When you have reached the walls of Silbern, you will regret ever setting foot on this battlefield" he then told them all.
Those in the group had different reactions to this, with some like Ganju, Yoruichi, Jinta and Grimmjow only scoffing at his warnings, indicating that they were not interested. On the other hand, Orihime, Ururu, Chad, Nelliel and Tessai were all slightly concerned about this scenario and wondered if the Dechado was correct in what he was saying. Meanwhile, Ichigo narrowed his eyes at the red-skinned Arrancar, starting to suspect something from him.
"I don't know what game you wanna play, but don't you EVER stand in my way" the Substitute Shinigami thought in his head. "Yhwach is my target, not yours!" he added to his thoughts.
"Well then!" the cheerful voice came from Pesche, as he and Dondochakka was smiling at the group. The blonde-haired Arrancar waved a hand at them. "Now that we've arrived at our destination, we only wanna wish you guys the best of luck, especially to you Lady Nelliel. And to you as well, Ichigo Kurosaki, Renji Abarai and Rukia Kuchiki!" he then told them, although he was actually referring to Jinta and Ururu by failed names.
The teenage boy snapped in anger. "IT'S JINTA HANAKARI! GET IT RIGHT!" he spat out in return, although Pesche didn't seem to care what he thought.
For some reason, Ichigo was musing to himself when he heard what Pesche just said about the two teenagers. Apparently, he had been having such similar thoughts about his friends as well. "You know, I've sometimes wondered whether Renji and Rukia are their long-lost parents" he thought in his head, although he had never taking this up with either those two or Urahara.
Nelliel smiled at her Fracciòn. "Alright you two. You stay here along with Gallante and those Fullbringers in this box. Who knows, we may need it at some point" the sea green-haired woman told them.
Dondochakka saluted before her in return. "Your wish is our command, Lady Nelliel! You guys have fun pounding some Quincy-flesh" the stout Arrancar said while laughing at the end, although most did not find his words particularly funny.
"Alright everyone, let's go!" Yoruichi said and faced Ichigo. "Ichigo, you first" she told the Subtsitute Shinigami, who nodded at her in return.
Ichigo grabbed the door's handle and opened it. As he exited the box, all the other members in his group followed suit. They began walking down some stairs and could see that the Garganta was drawing a line. This meant that it would open there. Slowly and steady, the space opened like a mouth. This made it possible for Ichigo and his group to see what was on the other side.
The moment they saw what was outside, they became stunned. However, they exited the Garganta and found themselves entering an icy cityscape with European-style architecture, similar to what had happened with the Sereitei. Was this even the Soul King's Palace, let alone the Royal Realm? As the Garganta behind them closed, the group was forced to contend with his unfamiliar territory.
"This has to be a joke…..." Ichigo uttered out lowly before looking around, seeing how these buildings reminded him of those in the Sereitei. "Where are we!?" he asked in slight uneasiness.
"This isn't he Soul King's Palace…..." Chad uttered out those words. "The buildings, the streets, they're just like those in the Sereitei!" the tall man remarked by what he was seeing.
"Hey Tessai, Yoruichi!" Jinta snapped at the two Shinigamis. "What the hell happened!? I thought you said that we would arrive at where the nail was placed! But I don't see any nails!" he added to his frustration.
"That's impossible! I swear, I put the nail right behind the Soul King during the…..." Yoruichi stopped talking, as everyone could hear some clinging voices coming to them nearby. Yoruichi was the first to turn around and she could see the same nail she had supposedly placed in the Soul King's Palace. She then lifted her head up and her golden eyes widened in shock. "Everyone…look up!" she then told them warily.
When Tessai got to see what Yoruichi was seeing, he adjusted his glasses while gasping and sweating at the same time. "What in the name of…." Tessai was at loss for words.
"My God…" Ganju noted lowly. "Is this shit even real!?" he then asked in slight outrage.
"How is this even possible!?" Jinta asked in discomfort.
"That's…the Soul King's Palace!" Chad uttered out.
The group was standing before the tall building that was once the Soul King's Palace. But the building was slowly coming apart, as it was covered in ice. At the same time, new buildings arose nearby and it astounded the entire group, who was very unsure about how to respond to this.
"What's going on here!?" Ururu asked while looking up to Yoruichi.
"I think the fact of the matter is: we're still in the Royal Realm, as well as the Soul King's Palace. There is without a doubt that we're there" she said before noticing the buildings that has come to shape. "This must be the work of Yhwach! He has reshaped the palace to his liking!" she then said while sweating.
Orihime glanced at her with a worrying expression. "Reshaping the palace…no way!" she exclaimed by what she was hearing. "But how was he able to pull off something like that!?" she then asked all of her friends.
"That is a question I believe all of us would like to know, Orihime" Tessai replied as he looked at the deconstructing building before them. "But somehow, we managed to avoid the reshaping while we were inside the Garganta. I think we should all consider ourselves both lucky and thankful" the tanned-skinned man then added to his words.
Ichigo stood before the group while holding onto one of his blades. "Alright. If this place has reshaped, then it's obvious Yhwach and his loyalists have re-located themselves" he told them as they all listened. "But as difficult as it may sound, we'll start searching for his whereabouts! Now let us…" Ichigo was interrupted by the sound of a horn and came from behind.
Turning around, the group was confronted by a horde of people dressed in white armor. Their armors had the Wandenreich's cross right in the middle and they also carried shields that had the Wandenreich's symbol engraved on them. They all gathered in lines while holding out their shields. Once they did that, they pulled out swords, which looked very similar to those used by the Divine Soldiers. The group was stunned by what they were seeing, and it was because of something very disturbing.
"Their Spiritual Pressures…...they're not Quincies!" Yoruichi remarked with unease.
Ichigo's eyes snapped by what he was hearing, also because he knew that she spoke the truth. "You're right. These men are…Shinigamis!" he said grimly in return before drawing out his Zanpakutous.
"By the order of His Majesty: Yhwach, we are to eliminate all intruders that dares to defile our glorious home!" one of these soldiers said while pointing his sword at the group. "We are the Bewachen, the backbone of Wahrwelt's army! All that dares to defy the new Soul King will be executed without mercy!" the soldier added to his declaration.
The group was stunned when they heard what he had just said, especially Ichigo. The young man snapped in outrage over hearing that man addressing Yhwach as the new Soul King. "What the hell's going on!" he thought lowly while clenching his blades tightly. "WHAT THE FUCK HAS HAPPANED!?" he then yelled while charging at the incoming soldiers, who called themselves the Bewachen.
To be continued…
Author's note: This was a cool chapter! We got to see how Ichigo and the other made their way to the newly transformed Soul King's Palace. We also saw the new type of allies Yhwach had managed to acquire, as he had absorbed the Soul King. And yes, while some of the scenes was loyal to the canon-story, I have added some flavor to it by taking away the unnecessary comedy scenes, as well as giving other characters the opportunity to talk. The next chapter will tell us about how Uryu is dealing with this, and how the Shinigamis are entering the Wahrwelt. In fact, the next chapter may be Quincy-orientated, as I plan on also focusing on Bazz-B, Shaz Domino and Yhwach. But is this the atual final battle in my story? Meh! This is only the beginning of the Sereitei's TRUE DOWNFALL!
Now let us see the only new term that we came to now in this chapter and what it means.
Bewachen – German for "Guard": For some reason, the Wandenreich has begun recruiting Shinigamis to its ranks of soldiers. Why would they ever work for their worst enemy? There are rumors that these soldiers were once Divine Soldiers guarding the Royal Realm. But when the Royal Realm became Wahrwelt, they pledged their loyalty to a new master.
