Author's note: While I DID say that I would continue with the Sternritters and their backstory, I felt like I needed a break from what was happening in the Soul Society. Therefore, this chapter is orientated mostly on the Togabitos, as well as the Diyu Empire. In fact, this chapter will tell us about how Hell is suddenly dragged into this conflict, as well as the alliance between the Wandenreich and the Diyu Empire. I don't own any of the characters. They belong to Tite Kubo. The original characters belong to me.
Chapter 32: Hell March
2 weeks ago, inside thehellish palace of Shēnyuān, the city of Youdu, Hell
Before Togabitos had even begun exiting Hell and into the Human World, there had been a secret event taking place inside the hellish palace where the Emperor of the Diyu Empire: Wang Yanluo lived. From there and the city of Youdu, the devilish tyrant commanded all Togabitos and forced them, as well as the Kushanadas, to serve under him. He had also managed to create an army loyal to him, among them the imperial army aka Yíngpán and the group of loyal monks called the Fahai. But inside his throne room in , Yanluo was currently sitting on his throne, awaiting the arrival of some of his closest councilors and allies.
"I hate waiting for these…..imbeciles" the emperor expressed his thoughts while grumbling lowly to himself.
But Yanluo was not alone in the throne room. Already present were Guan Gong: the Emperor's Left Hand, Jiutian Xuannü: the Emperor's Right Hand, Mao Khuan: the Emperor's Right Eye and Cheng Nezha: the Emperor's Left Eye. Apparently, they were joining their superior in a secret meeting, but first, they were waiting for someone to arrive. Yanluo sat on his throne, waiting impatiently.
"The rest of my inner circle better show up soon" the red-skinned creature said as fires burned along with him. "They seem to have forgotten how my patience is thin!" he then loudly exclaimed, his fiery eyes only burning with anger.
"Be strong, Eternal Emperor. I am confident they will arrive soon" the voice came from the youthful-looking woman named Jiutian Xuannü, as she smiled at her emperor with a surprisingly seductive glance.
The thick-bearded man named Guan Gong saw this and simply snickered in return. "That woman is so delusional" he noted in his thoughts, before forming a grin with his teeth, indicating that he was planning on something. "My dear Xuannü, why do you always have to act like a wench in front of our great leader?" he then mockingly asked her.
Xuannü simply narrowed her eyes at him when she heard his words. "Your words do not affect me, Gong. Hearing you speak is like listening to a young child speak" she then responded, even shooting a jab back at Gong.
Before Gong could say anything in retaliation, the door to the palace suddenly arrived and in came a couple of small children. But despite their young appearances, they were indeed Togabitos. The tallest of the two was a young black-haired girl with two pigtails. Her style of clothes was that of a black traditional Chinese dress with sleeves. Despite her young age, she looked kind of melancholic on her expression. The smallest of the two was a young boy with shaved black hair. His style of clothing was similar to that of Qiao, as he was dressed in a black Maoist outfit with a hat and a red star attached to it.
Both children bowed as they reached Yanluo's throne. Even though their superior was glaring at them with his burning eyes, they never got intimidated by him.
"Meng Fan: Left Foot of the Eternal Emperor, at your service" the young girl spoke up in a very monotone voice. She then glanced up to her emperor. "I humbly apologize for being late. But this idiot beside me got me caught in some kind of prank" she then apologized while glancing disapprovingly at the young boy beside her.
The young boy was poking his nose as if he didn't care. Despite doing this, no one seemed to consider it nasty or inappropriate. The young boy kept doing this as a means to not pay attention to what his partner was saying, much to Fan's open irritation.
"Get over it, already! I was getting back at you for stealing my property and for making me look like an ass in front of the everyone!" the young boy spat back, before noticing that he was bickering in front of the emperor. The young boy immediately fell down on his knees and begged for forgiveness. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to offend you in any way! I will behave! Han Yao: Right Foot of the Eternal Emperor at your service!" he then insisted.
Some of the other advisors were getting tired of seeing this, especially Gong and Nezha who found the bickering between those two children to be quite annoying.
"Heh…..lousy brats" Gong muttered underneath his thick beard.
"Can we move on to the next subject?" Nezha asked after letting out a deep sigh.
"We can't do that yet" the lion-like Khuan spoke up while facing the young man in dragon-like armor. "There are still two remaining advisors left so we….." Khuan was interrupted by a familiar sound calling to him.
"I am already here" the voice came from a Togabito who was unique in appearance, similar to Khuan and Yanluo. The first of them was a long individual, considering that he was a green-scaled Chinese serpent standing on two feet while his outfit looked like that of a Chinese folk dancer. It was both red and black. A chain could be spotted hanging around his long neck. The serpent had whiskers, black eyes, golden horns, but also white-facial hair. The serpent bowed before his emperor with respect. "Chiang Kai: the Eternal Emperor's Heart has arrived. I apologize for the delay" he spoke up with formality in his voice.
"Hey! Don't forget about me, the Eternal Emperor's Brain: Chan Chu!" the cranky voice came from Togabito, who looked like a golden frog with red eyes. He wore an outfit that seemed awfully similar to those worn by the Chinese Buddha statues. He even wore red prayer beads around his neck, while a chain could also be noticed, considering that the frog-like Togabito's belly was exposed. He was relatively smaller than his comrades, but at least much taller than Hao and Fan. The frog-like creature cleared his throat. "I humbly apologize for being late, but I…" he was suddenly interrupted.
"GET ON WITH IT, ALREADY!" the angry and fiery voice of Yanluo left chills in not just Chu, but also Yao as well. "I HAVE NO TIME TO HEAR MORE EXCUSES! JUST TAKE YOUR SEATS AND KEEP YOUR MOUTHS SHUT!" he roared and no one spoke back in return. They imply found their places to sit and listen to what their leader was planning.
The eight Togabitos joining their leader were called the Liántōng. Along with the Fahai, they were considered to be among Yanluo's favorite subordinates. But whereas the Fahai were commonly seen as grunts and soldiers by the emperor, the Liántōng had far more prestige and respect from their superior. In fact, they even held important political positions within the Diyu Empire. They also acted as Yanluo's personal councilors and advisors, while being willing to fill in for their superior should that be the case. However, rarely did those Togabitos ever fight, as they usually called upon the Fahai to deal with such matters. But if provoked, they could become deadly adversaries, as they were able to stand beside their superior on an equal level.
"Eternal Emperor, why have you summoned us?" Khuan then broke the silence while bowing his head before the fiery creature.
The fire in his eyes stopped blazing and Yanluo surprisingly found calm within himself. Whenever he felt stressed out, he would always need to kill someone. Therefore, many lesser Togabito slaves had been brought into the throne room, with all of them pleading that they would not be taken away the opportunity to escape from Hell.
"I have called you all here for a particular meeting, my dear Liántōng" the red-skinned creature spoke up, his voice booming the throne room. His claws slowly dug into the hard steel of his throne. "Apparently, we are receiving guests inside the Shēnyuān. It is time that you all get to see who I have been communicating with for the last couple of years" Yanluo told them.
There were different reactions to his followers, but some like Fan and Yao were filled with curiosity over the subject. Others like Gong, Nezha and Chu seemed less than enthusiastic about it, given that they each had different motives for being loyal to the emperor. But Khuan, Xuannü and Kai seemed to pay attention to what was being said.
"Are we getting visitors?" Fan asked in her sweet but scary voice. "I hope that they would like some tea" the child-like Togabito added to her statement.
Nezha simply glanced down at her with his arms crossed. "There will be no tea party here, Fan" the young man with the topknot said disapprovingly while facing Yanluo with a respective nod. "Eternal Emperor, are you certain that we can trust him?" he then asked his superior with a hint of concern in his voice.
Yanluo only sat on his throne, his fiery eyes narrowing further. "He himself knows about the disadvantages he has in my realm. If he ever tries something, I shall take all of his souls and make them mine" the red-skinned Togabito responded.
After two seconds, a large black portal appeared in the middle of the throne room and all members of the Liántōng got cautious. From what they knew, this was not the work of a Shinigami or an Arrancar. Out from the black portal, two figures appeared and revealed themselves for the emperor to see. Some of Yanluo's allies got cautious and wary. The man walking towards them was none other than the Father of the Quincies himself: Yhwach. But he was not alone, as he was accompanied by a squadron of his Soldats, as well as the Sternritter Grandmaster: Jugram Haschwalth.
As they approached the throne, Yhwach forced a smirk underneath his black moustache. Yanluo rose up from his seat and took small steps towards the long-haired man. His three eyes were solely fixed upon him. So far, neither Haschwalth nor the Soldats had made a move to attack the Togabitos.
"Hail to you, Wang Yanluo" Yhwach spoke up in a surprisingly respective tone at the beginning. But he was not finished just yet. "I must say that Hell is quite different since the last time I saw it with my own eyes" the Quincy then added to his statement.
"Spare me your nonsense, Yhwach!" Yanluo barked, his eyes slightly burning as he glanced down upon some of the Quinces that were accompanying him. "Did you conquer the Soul Society with a group of grunts like these?" he then asked Yhwach.
"No" Yhwach sternly replied. "This is only a tiny bit of the immense army and arsenal the Wandenreich possesses" he then added to his answering.
The Soldats were mostly intimidated by the enormous Spiritual Pressure that came from Yanluo and his allies. But Yhwach remained calm, only glancing at his fellow emperor with nothing but boredom. However, Haschwalth was at least stunned to be able to see powerful Togabitos like these.
"Such immense power" Haschwalth remarked inside his head by observing the interaction between Yhwach and Yanluo. "We best do what we are here for and return to Silbern. Many Quincies will without a doubt question His Majesty's motives for visiting Hell" the blonde-haired man then added to his thoughts.
So far, Yanluo and Yhwach had been facing each other for a long time. Their powerful Spiritual Pressures were on full display and they succeeded in causing the throne room itself to shake a little.
"Well. I assume you have what I asked for. Bear in mind that I loath those who do not keep their end of the bargain. You, who was relied upon me many times before, should understand that" Yanluo spoke up, his voice hallowing the throne room.
Yhwach suddenly reached for something underneath his cape. "Enough prattling. I did not come here just to hear you throwing tantrums over things in the past. We should focus on the present" he said and suddenly held out a medallion. This was not just an ordinary medallion. It was the same one he had used to steal Zanka no Tachi, the Bankai of the late Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto. Even as he held it in his hands, the hear began consuming the medallion. Yhwach smirked. "I believe that you said that the Wandenreich and the Diyu Empire would only become allies if I managed to get my hands on the Bankai of Shigekuni Yamamoto. Was it not this you were talking about? Well, here it is: Zanka no Tachi" the black-haired man revealed cunningly.
The three eyes of Yanluo widened in surprise, as he could see feel the heat on the medallion that longed to be released, only to be restrained by Yhwach's Spiritual Pressure. A devilish grin formed around his mouth, as he knew that the Quincy spoke the truth.
"Yes…..not just Zanka no Tachi…..but all the flames of Ryujin Jakka…held within that tiny object" he exclaimed in a gleeful manner and even chuckled in amusement. "I cannot believe I am saying this…but I am impressed" the emperor admitted while glancing at Yhwach.
The Quincy was smiling at him in a smug manner. He even held out his medallion to him. "Go on. Take it. The flames are yours, after all" Yhwach told him while motioning the medallion in his right hand. "You said that we could come into an agreement if I gave you Yamamoto's flames. Well, here is your chance. I did keep my word, didn't I?" he then reminded the red-skinned Togabito before him.
Yanluo didn't need to be told twice as he immediately snatched the medallion off from Yhwach's fingers and glanced down at it in a delightful manner. Apparently, he was happy to have Yamamoto's Bankai in the palm of his left hand. A grin of satisfaction crept on his face.
"Yes….I can feel the flames…..my flames" Yanluo spoke up as he was starting to feel anticipation within himself. "For many eons, Yamamoto have been using my flames as a means to bend his allies and opponents to their knees! But they were mine to begin with! That old fool had used my flames to empower his own status! But no longer. Now that the flames have returned, they will rejoice in being reunited with me!" he exclaimed with pride as his fest hand became enveloped in burning flame.
"Well then" Yhwach interrupted Yanluo, who begrudgingly turned his attention to him. "Now that I've done my end of the bargain, I expect the same thing from you, Yanluo" the long-haired man told Yanluo.
The red-skinned creature narrowed his fiery eyes, indicating that he was somewhat angered with what Yhwach just said. Even so, the Togabito did not make a move against him and simply crossed his arms in return.
"So, you wish for the Wandenreich and the Diyu Empire to become allies?" Yanluo's voice boomed in the throne room. "And what makes you think that we who have dwelled in Hell will want to agree with your proposal?" he then questioned Yhwach sternly.
Yhwach's smirk never faded away. "Simple. I know how to break the barriers between Hell and the other realms" he revealed, much to the surprise of Yanluo, as well as his allies. "Yes. I have plans on making a new world. And in this world, all realms belong as one, including your empire. Have you ever wished that the dwellers of the Soul Society could see the giant and impregnable wall of the Diyu Empire? In that way, they would know how to fear and respect you" the Emperor of the Wandenreich explained his proposal.
While the Eternal Emperor was slightly getting interested in it, something else prevented him from fully agreeing to Yhwach's proposal. "You think that mere Souls will be a threat to my empire!? Do not insult me!" the red-skinned creature barked at Yhwach. "As soon as you have disposed of their leaders, they along with the Shinigamis will become nothing but a disunited warband that is easy to crush. And yes, I have learned about the one Human you are so curious about: Ichigo Kurosaki. Even he will not be a threat to my domain" he then added to his explanation.
"I am not simply talking about Shinigamis, sinner" Yhwach spoke up and held up the small object of his called the Schicksal. The small crystal ball shined brightly, and it intrigued the Togabitos. But considering that Yhwach was standing before Yanluo, he got to see what it really was. The three-eyed monster could see something inside that crystal ball. "I take it you know who this is, right?" the man with the moustache asked smugly.
Yanluo angrily gritted his teeth in anger over what he was seeing. "Arrancars…" he spoke up lowly and clenched his demonic hands together. "And they are being led by that bastard…..Augustus Zod Allowin!" he then bellowed in anger.
Yhwach mused to himself after seeing this. "Yes. The Hollows and Arrancars have now gathered themselves under a new power in Hueco Mundo and they are lead by the one you speak of" the Quincy said and glanced up to the Togabito in a serious manner. "Therefore, our two empires should form an alliance of convenience. If you agree to this alliance, I promise to break the barriers that separates Hell from the other realms. In fact, I may start remaking the world by bringing in Hell first" Yhwach then spoke up, his voice indicating that he was serious.
Yanluo, who had thought about this while hearing Yhwach speak, fixed his burning eyes upon him. The look on his face seemed rather calmer than his usual self. He slowly nodded his head at him, which brought satisfaction to the Quincy Emperor. It was obvious that the promises had played a key part in persuading him over to his side.
"Very well. As repayment for giving me my flames back, the Diyu Empire shall become allies with the Wandenreich" he said, and a giant black portal began forming behind Yhwach and his group of Quincies. The long-haired man was about to turn around, only to be stopped by Yanluo's voice. "But remember our bargain, Quincy. Do not dare cross me!" he then sternly warned him.
Yhwach merely looked over his shoulder with a smug look on his face. "There is no need to get so jumpy with me, Togabito. The next time we meet, I expect you to follow your end of the bargain. Until then, farewell, Wang Yanluo" he then bid him farewell, as he, Haschwalth and the Soldats entered the dark portal thus vanishing from the throne room, let alone the entire Hell itself.
There was a discussion amongst the Liántōng after there was no traces of Quincies left in the throne room. Each member had different reaction to what was being discussed.
"That Yhwach…." the frog-like Chu expressed his distaste for the man. "How does he have the nerve to come here and bark demands from the Eternal Emperor!?" he then snapped in outrage over what he was hearing.
"I agree" Gong said while brandishing his halberd. "We should've killed him while he was here!" the bearded man exclaimed with his hidden bloodlust.
Some of the members did not find their opinions particular amusing or supportive. "You allow your hunger for battle to blind you, Gong" Khuan said while crossing his arms. This caused Gong to angrily glare at the lion-like Togabito, but Khuan was also targeting Chu as well. "And as for you, Chu. You really have no idea what it means to be on a battlefield" he then scolded the stout Togabito.
"You shut your mouth, Khuan!" Chu spat back in return.
Kai was himself having mixed feelings about this proposal, as had Nezha and Xuannü. The serpent-like Togabito had a talk with them on that matter, with each of them telling their own opinions.
"I don't trust Yhwach" Nezha said as honest as he could. "From what I could see in his eyes, there was a hint of deception. And that blonde-haired man that was accompanying him looked almost like a younger version of him. Something is not right" the young man spoke up.
Kai nodded his head at him in return. "Indeed. And more importantly, for what reasons does the Quincies want our aid? They have used Hell to punish their own in the past, and have always referred to us as the sinners" the he spoke up while remaining cautious about this subject.
"Even so, I can't help but to feel somewhat tempted by this agreement" Xuannü admitted with a smirk forming on her lips. "We all know that Yhwach is someone who is not keen on keeping actual promises. Why don't we do the same to him when the time comes?" she then suggested to her comrades.
"But he did return the Eternal Emperor's flames to him, didn't he?" the young and slightly melancholic voice came from Fan, as she was glancing up to her fellow members of the Liántōng with a curious glance. The girl with the pigtails then looked over at the emperor, who was suddenly beaming with happiness in his three eyes. "He does seem to be in a happy mood right now" Fan added.
"What's a stupid medallion worth anyway!?" the brash and impatient voice came from Yao, as he simply crossed his arms while looking at his superior holding it. "I say, this was nothing but a waste of my….." the young boy snapped as he felt a frim grip on the collar of his clothes.
It was Yanluo's doing, his eyes burning with rage, much to Yao's own fear. "What was that, Han Yao!?" he demanded a question while his fingers tightened his grip. "I dare you to say this in front of your superior!" the red-skinned Togabito then dared the young boy, who was snapping out of fear.
"Hold on! I was just joking! I mean…..the f-flames are great! Yeah! Great!" the young boy then insisted to the emperor.
Yanluo simply released his grip on Yao's collar and turned his attention on the medallion. He could see that Yhwach's Spiritual Pressure was still restraining it. However, that did not stop him from wanting to achieve control over the flames. The red-skinned being held it in the palm of his right hand. Before everyone knew it, he crushed it. When the medallion was torn into many pieces, the emperor felt so much pleasure inside of himself. His three eyes were burning with fire.
"What is happening to him?" Chu asked with concern in his voice.
Kai only chuckled in return. "Why, the Eternal Emperor is finally reclaiming what was taken from him" the serpent replied to the stout frog-like Togabito and fixed his eyes upon his superior, who was beaming gleefully as the heat surrounded him. Kai bowed before his emperor and so did his fellow loyalists.
"We are yours to command, sire" Khuan said.
Seeing how he was treated with respect and dignity like a true emperor would have been, Yanluo felt proud over being the ruler of Hell. In fact, he decided to demonstrate his new powers and he did that by spewing out fire up in the air from his mouth. This fire was enormous and there was no doubt that with Yamamoto's flames, Wang Yanluo was now powerful.
"That was amazing, boss" Fan said while she, Xuannü and some of the other Togabitos began clapping their hands for him. They were all amazed by his power.
Yanluo returned to his throne and fixed his eyes upon his subjects, who were still on their knees bowing before him. The red-skinned creature decided to do some research of the Human World on his own. And by that, he would also like to find more information about Ichigo Kurosaki, the same Human that Hell had loaned its power to defeat the rogue Togabito named Kokuto.
"Bring me Zhong of the Fahai!" his booming voice called out to them all. "I have a special mission for him! A mission that will take him to the Human World" he then added with a grin creeping on his face.
Weeks later, in center of Youdu, Hell
After Zhong failed his mission and was brought back to participate in the summit of the Fahai, Wang Yanluo was still scheming his plan to make his move on the outside world. He had dreamed of seeing his people march across the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo, as well as the banner and flag of his empire hanging over either the Sereitei or El Dorado. But finding El Dorado was proving difficult, and the Sereitei was already experiencing their second invasion from the Wandenreich.
But something else had happened in Hell since those events. Small tints of earthquakes had rocked the imperial city of Youdu and many Togabitos began to wonder whether this was the end of them. This was mostly feared by the Diyu Empire's noblemen. But Yanluo and his loyalists never thought of this as the end of the world. Rather it was only the beginning of the Hell's new era.
Since the earthquakes stopped, most of Yanluo's followers had been allowed to do as they pleased. They would be notified whenever their services were needed. But in the city of Youdu, the dwellers were trying to rebuild some of the buildings that had been damaged during the earthquake. But in the sewers of the dark, but bustling city, four members of the Fahai were now sitting and pondering about recent events.
"This stinks piss…." the baldheaded man with pointy ears named Zhong exclaimed as he was conversing with Bohai, Ling and Ping. "Or worse, it stinks even worse than that!" he then added to his profane language.
The big-eared man only rolled his eyes. "Of course, it stinks down here, genius. We're in the sewer" Ling pointed out while looking around in the city's sewer system, made by bricks and rocks.
"I'm not talking about that!" Zhong snapped back at the shaven-haired man. "I'm talking about the fact that none of us are allowed to go into the Human World! I mean, what's the big idea?" he then asked while feeling a bit of frustrated.
Ping only snorted in return. "Well, there's a reason why YOU'RE not allowed to. You completely made an ass of yourself on your mission. Seriously, why did the Eternal Emperor even choose you to do the scouting?" the round man pointed out while asking his fellow Fahai a question.
Bohai could not help but to hide a chuckle when he heard Ping ask him that. "I would like to know that myself" he noted while musing over the fact.
Zhong only crossed his arms and looked to another direction, thereby deciding to ignore what Ping just said to him. In fact, he looked up where he could see through one of Youdu's many grate locks. There were a lot of Togabitos wandering through the street that were above them. It was both higher Togabitos and lesser Togabitos. The lesser Togabitos were considered to be unintelligent and were usually treated as slaves and laborers in the Diyu Empire.
While Zhong was busy looking up, the three other monks decided to continue their conversation. And of course, it was Ling who took the initiative.
"Anyway, what do you guys think about this sort of "alliance" that we have with the Wandenreich?" Ling cunningly asked his comrades while poking his left ear. "You wanna hear my answer? Well, I honestly don't feel like becoming friends with Quincies. They're a bunch of zealous losers" he then expressed his opinions.
Bohai stroke his long, black hair while listening to this. "I agree" he spoke up his mind in a very suspicious tone. "I can only hope that the Eternal Emperor knows the choices he makes" the muscular man said while thinking about what he had heard.
"Yeah, I really…what the….." Ping pointed his finger at Zhong, who had been left out and was relaxing. He saw something that was hanging from the grate lock and right beside the baldheaded man's pointy ear. "Ummm…...Zhong…." he asked in a concerned voice.
Zhong merely grumbled when hearing this. "Give me a break, Ping. Is this one of your hilarious attempts to scare me with one of your…" he suddenly snapped in fear when he could feel someone hiss in his ear. Turning to his left side, it was a snake that was hanging from the grate lock. "SNAKE! AHHHHH! WHAT THE FUCK!?" he yelled out of shock and outrage.
Both Ping and Ling laughed their butts off at seeing Zhong's reaction. But Bohai simply shook his head in disbelief in seeing the immaturity of his comrades. The pointy-eared man looked up and growled by seeing who was standing above the grate lock, as well as sending the snake down at him.
"Daiyu! You gothic bitch, what was that for?!" he cursed in anger while seeing the black-haired lady standing there with a smug look on her face. The snake climbed up to her and hang around her neck.
Daiyu stroke her black hair. "Sorry about that. I couldn't help but to hear your voice coming from this grate lock, so I decided to misbehave" she said while fixing a so-called innocent look on her face. "But surely you will forgive a sweet lady like me, won't you?" she then teasingly asked Zhong while bending over.
However, she snapped as she could feel something touch her from behind. Looking over her shoulder, she could see a hand coming out from a void and groping her butt. The young woman became furious, but the hand disappeared before Daiyu could grab it. She angrily glanced down at Zhong.
"You pervert! How dare you touch me from behind!?" she angrily spat at him.
Zhong was pulling out his right hand from a void he had created. It was the same void that had appeared behind Daiyu a second ago. He smirked at mischievously. "You call that an ass!? Heh! Your ass is nothing but small cushions!" he then taunted her while insulting her appearance.
This caused both Ping and Ling to laugh with Zhong on this one. They could not believe how far he was willing to go, considering that he had touched the backside of Daiyu, one of the more dangerous members of the Fahai.
"Man, you really got balls pulling that stunt" Ling remarked while lying on his back laughing.
"Yeah, maybe Daiyu should get some butt implants" Ping said and he snorted while laughing, even beginning to lie on his stomach.
Zhong rested his hands behind his neck. "You know the old saying: karma's a bitch!" the sneaky man added before joining his comrades.
While Zhong was laughing, he suddenly stepped sideways as some purple liquid began pouring itself up from above and down to the sewers. The other Togabitos around him took notice of this and became cautious. This was the work of Daiyu, who was now unleashing her poison through the grate lock.
"Come back here, you cowards! I will drown you all in poison!" Daiyu snapped in anger as she unleashed her poison into the sewers. But while she was doing that, she suddenly felt her entire body losing control and she was lifted up into the air, along with her snake. The woman got angered by this, yet snapped as she saw who was behind pulling this trick on her. "Xiaodan! Put me down!" she snapped as she felt her arms and legs twist.
Another member of the Fahai was doing this to her, the red-haired woman named Xiaodan. She merely stood there with her arms folded while her eyes glowed red. It appeared that the Togabito had a psychic ability and she used it to lift her opponent up into the air. She seemed so nonchalantly.
"Okay! You win! I was only trying to teach these fools a lesson! Now let go off me!" Daiyu then gave in in order to make Xiaodan stop with her telepathy. The black-haired woman fell on the ground and rubbed her arms and head while groaning. "Damn it, Xiaodan! You almost broke my bones just now!" she complained to her fellow Fahai.
The young woman dressed like a Chinese princess immediately came back to her senses and felt shame running across her face. In fact, she even gasped after learning about this.
"Oh, goodness. I am terribly sorry for that, Daiyu" Xiaodan insisted and fixed an apologetic look on her face. "I only wanted to lift you up in the air and away from those boys. I never intended to use my abilities to harm you" she said awkwardly while doing a nervous gesture with her fingers.
As much as she simply wanted to slap the hell out of the red-haired woman, Daiyu restrained her anger. She knew Xiaodan to be an incredible naïve person. In fact, her naivety was one of the many weaknesses she possessed.
"Honestly, Xiao. When are you going to master your abilities for real?" the black-haired woman asked her in a surprisingly nicer tone. Daiyu petted the snake hanging around her. "If used wisely, your ability could become a weapon against our foes. And not only that, it could also be an asset to us" she then told the princess-like woman.
Xiaodan sighed deeply before facing downwards towards the ground. "I know. I get your point" she told her. For some reason, her cheeks were blushing. "But I can't help myself. For some unknown reason, I've been thinking a lot about Prince Nezha lately" she then admitted.
"So, it is true? You two really are a thing, huh?" a cunning voice could be heard from a corner of the street and both women turned around to see the Fahai, Zhen, standing there leaning against the building. He held his staff in his folded arms. Even though his Chinese hat made it impossible for the women to see his eyes, they could see his mouth. Zhen seemed kind of in a good mood now. "Sorry for eavesdropping, but I couldn't help but to overhear Daiyu having some fun with that nasty rat below us" he told them while mentioning Zhong indirectly.
"I heard that, asshole!" the angry voice of Zhong came from the grate lock, although none of the Togabitos seemed to care about his outburst.
Xiaodan felt her cheeks blush as Zhen stood there looking so smug. She was embarrassed over the words that he had just said, coupled with the fact that he had been eavesdropping on her and Daiyu. The black-haired woman glanced at the man dressed like a wanderer with suspicious eyes, as if she was about to make a move on her.
"What's the meaning of this, Zhen?" Daiyu questioned him coldly.
But Zhen only waved his right hand at her as a means to calm her down. "Easy there, Daiyu. I've no interest in seeking a confrontation" he insisted while fixing his attention on Xiaodan. "I get it. You have feelings for Nezha. While I'm baffled at how you can have feelings for someone as pompous as him, I still respect your choices" the Togabito then told the young woman.
Xiaodan could not help but to giggle slightly, given that she found Zhen's words to be slightly hilarious. But she then glanced at the man dressed like a wanderer with a sweet look on her face. "I thank you so much for saying this, Zhen. And I assure you: Nezha is a completely different man when he is not around the Eternal Emperor" she then assured him.
"That is if what you may think" a robotic voice could be heard as two members of the Fahai suddenly approached the trio. Xiaodan and her comrades turned to see who it was. Approaching them were the robotic-like Feng and the woman named Qiao. "I apologize for interrupting your conversation. But we came here wanting to ask something of you" Feng then stated.
Qiao giggled as and leaned onto Feng, much to the robotic Togabito's annoyance. "Me and Feng here are out on a date! Since none of our services are required right now, we're now prepared to watch the parade taking place in this city" the woman dressed like a Communist Party member told them.
A sigh could be heard through the opening of Feng's metallic mask, signaling his irritation. "It is NOT a date. Get it straight" he replied sternly to her, his mechanical voice showing his discontent. But he remained focused on the other Togabitos before him. "Listen. About the meeting between the Eternal Emperor and Yhwach. What do you think of it?" he then asked them.
Xiaodan, Daiyu and Zhen all widened in surprise when they heard what he was saying. True, when all members of the Fahai had learned about a secret alliance being formed between the Diyu Empire and the Wandenreich, each of them had different reactions to it. Yet, those who expressed opposition to this had not showed it to Yanluo directly.
"Well….." Xiaodan asked as she nervously smiled. "I trust that the Eternal Emperor knows what he is doing. He is our superior after all" the woman dressed like a Chinese princess answered as honest as she could, even though there was a tint of uncertainty in her voice.
Feng did nothing but only nodded his head at her in return. "I see. You have not given much thought about it" the black-haired man with the metallic mask responded in return.
"Honestly, I don't see what your point is" Daiyu said while crossing her arms. "The Eternal Emperor said it straight, he would not allow himself to be kowtowed by the Quincies, despite our alliance" the gothic-looking woman added to her statement.
"Well, I can tell what Feng's point is" Zhen said as he had stopped leaning against the wall and fixed his attention on the robotic Togabito. "I take it you're telling us this because you want us all to be prepared, am I right? Prepared to battle the Quincies when the time comes" the man with the Chinese hat asked Feng.
Feng simply nodded his head slowly. "Very perceptive of you, Zhen. It appears you at least seem to get the gravity of the situation" he replied with his robotic voice. He then fixed his gaze upon the two women. "But you on the other hand do not. So far, only Qiao seems to have taken this seriously" he then said.
Qiao smiled delightedly when she heard this. "Of course, I have, silly! I too have been worried about the things that have happened here lately, especially with the earthquakes" she responded and began pulling Feng's robotic arm. "Now let's go and see the parade, already!" she said and dragged Feng away.
Despite being dragged away by Qiao, Feng continued to glance at the three Togabitos, until the and his "girlfriend" vanished around a corner. None of them knew what the robotic Togabito's point was about.
But Zhong had overheard their conversation from the sewers. But it didn't seem as if those Togabitos above him seemed to care about the fact that he had been eavesdropping on them. The man with the pointy ears had hung himself on the grate lock, and when he felt like not listening anymore, he let go of his grip and landed on the slimy ground.
"Did you guys hear that? Obviously not everyone among the Fahai is…" Zhong stopped speaking, as he could see that Bohai, Ling and Ping were no longer sitting where they sat. He was now all alone in the sewers and it made him slightly pissed off. "Great, now where did those crackheads run off to?" he grumbled while following the way that lead to the exit of the sewers.
In the center of Youdu was bustling with trade and other forms of activity, something else was happening on one of the cities' promenades. That's right, the denizens of Hell had now been gathered on both sides of the promenade as there was a parade taking place. This form of parade was almost similar to those happening in China, except for the fact that the colors used in this were black, white, red and yellow. It was a testament to both the hellish landscape that existed in Hell, as well as the essence of death. People were dressed in black and white clothes, while holding handmade Chinese dragons up in the air. At the same time, there were also many skulls involved when it came to decoration. This only indicated that this parade was held in homage to the mighty emperor of the Diyu Empire: Wang Yanluo. In fact, flames could be seen among the parading Togabitos as well.
Watching the parade from the balcony of a tower were the two youngest of the Liántōng: Han Yao and Meng Fan. The two children-like Togabitos watched from their chairs as many lesser Togabitos began doing services for them, like pouring drinks or fanning them. As close servants of the Eternal Emperor, Yao and Fan were treated with respect and dignity.
"Man, this is so boring!" Yao exclaimed impatiently while crossing his arms. "I was told something fun and exciting would happen in Youdu today. However, no one ever told me that it would be some lame-ass parade!" the young boy snapped.
Fan only rolled her eyes in return by what she was hearing. "Gee, I wonder if you would have enough guts to say something like that in front of the Eternal Emperor. That, I would pay to see" she said, even forming a smirk underneath her lips.
"Screw off, Fan!" Yao said boringly before fixing his eyes on some of the Togabito servants with the drinks. "Hey you! More baijiu, please" he told him while waving his glass.
The Togabito responded without hesitation and poured some baijiu onto his glass. It was very inappropriate by the fact that these two children drank alcohol. However, considering that they were Togabitos, rules for drinking never existed. In fact, unlike the Human World, Soul Society and Hueco Mundo, Hell didn't necessarily have rules that applied to children. In the Diyu Empire specifically, everyone could do as they pleased, as long they it was nothing against the rule of Yanluo.
The young boy dressed like a Chinese Communist Party member drank the baijiu from his glass and let out a burp which was loud. But Yao soon felt satisfaction in this. "Ah man, nothing beats a glass of baijiu" the boy remarked as he felt himself completely relaxed.
"Are you still talking to me?" Fan asked sternly while raising an eyebrow. "I mean, you did tell me to screw off" she then added to her question.
Yao growled by what he was hearing. "I was talking to myself, you stupid bitch. Now do me a favor and shut up!" he snapped at her in return.
Before Fan could say anything in return, she was surprised by someone who had appeared in the same balcony she and Yao were currently sitting on. These visitors had appeared by using Zouguó. Both children turned around and could see Fahai-members: Feng and Qiao, appearing before them. Each of them bowed their heads in respect, given that they were among the Eternal Emperor's favorite followers.
"Lady Fan, Lord Yao. What a pleasure to see you" Feng spoke up with honorifics in his voice. "Allow us to be by your side as entourages and witness this parade" the man with the metallic mask then said.
While Yao glanced at them with no enthusiasm, Fan nodded her head at them with a smile on her face. "Sure, suit yourselves. I was starting to get bored with speaking to only Yao, anyway" she said, much to the anger of the young boy. The girl with the pigtails then faced her Togabito-servants. "You there, bring them some refreshments" she then told them and they responded without delay.
"Hey you! Don't you ignore me you…" Yao was about to angrily attack the girl, only for him to get hugged by none other than Qiao. She did that so hard that the boy himself felt unable to even breath. "GAH…WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?" he then asked as he was squeezed by Qiao, who was noted for being a strong woman.
"Oh Yao, that outfit of yours suits you very well! It makes me want to hug you so much!" she responded, considering the fact that they both wore the same outfit. Yao's however was much geared towards men and younger boys than with what Qiao wore.
Fan laughed by seeing this, before she fixed her attention on Feng. Surprisingly, he drank some baijiu by pouring it through the opening on his metallic mask. Many Togabitos were not sure whether his "mouth" where located where the opening ran, but Feng was able to drink and eat, despite his somewhat cyborg-like appearance.
"Tell me, Feng. Do you happen to know where Gong, Xuannü and the others are?" she asked him nicely while wanting some answers.
Feng stopped drinking and fixed his gaze at the young girl before shaking his head. "Sadly, I don't. However, as far as I know, my Fāxiàn is able to detect the Spiritual Pressures of Master Chu and Master Nezha. They both seem to be around in Youdu" he simply responded while gazing out from the balcony.
The young girl was not actually surprised to hear this and she sighed. "I know Nezha is probably taking in charge of the city's security while Chu is staying in the palace. However, I have noticed something about the Eternal Emperor. Especially since he managed to get back his flames" Fan told the member of the Fahai, as he listened closely.
"Indeed. He has been somewhat reclusive" Feng spoke up with his robotic voice. "However, it should not be of concern to any of us, as long as it helps him focused on the challenges ahead" he then assured her, as well as Yao, who was still trying to get Qiao off of him.
"Come on, Yao! Just a kiss on my cheeks!" she pouted while refusing to let go of him.
"Damn it, Qiao! Get your dry lips far away from me as possible!" the young boy snapped in return.
However, a shadow suddenly appeared high above the balcony and those standing on it could see that it was because one of the Fahai, the young woman named Ying was flying above the tower, eventually using her powers to float above them. The brown-haired woman smirked as she faced down the Togabitos.
"Hey, kids! Nice view from up her, isn't it?" she asked while standing on the balcony's edge. But she then noticed that there were drinks served and she felt thirsty. "Ah, I would really like a drink!" she exclaimed and grabbed a glass that was brought to her by one of the Togabito-servants.
Qiao let go of Yao, and focused her stern eyes upon her. "Hey! You have some nerve referring to Lord Yao as a kid! Show some respect!" she snapped, although Ying seemed to ignore her tantrum. "And by the way, why are you bothering us?" she then asked while wanting to know an answer.
Ying was finished with her drink and dried her mouth. "Relax, comrade. I was only racing to the top of this tower with Jiang. But as usual, he beat me" she replied while pointing her finger up towards the edge of the roof above them, in which they could see the grey-haired man dressed in black and white traditional outfit sitting at the edge.
He simply waved his hand at them in his gentle manner. He then fixed his bright eyes upon Ying. "I told you, didn't I, Ying? My speed is at the same haste as lightning itself" he said, as small sparks of lightning could even be seen around him, including his hair and eyes.
Ying only shrugged her shoulders in return. "What a showoff" she replied to her thoughts before resuming her conversation with her fellow Fahai and the two Liántōng. "Now I couldn't help but to overhear you wonder where Master Khuan and the others are. Well, they're at the wall along with the Eternal Emperor" she then revealed to them, much to the surprise of her fellow Togabitos.
"The wall…...but why?" Fan asked while her eyes became filled with realization. "Hold on…...don't tell me that….." she then said lowly, causing Ying to simply nod her head in return.
"Yeah, the wall is finished" she responded. "However, that's not the only reason they are there. You see, the reason for being at the wall, as well as this parade taking place here, is because the barriers that have long separated Hell from the other realms…..will finally be broken" she revealed with a delightful smile creeping on her face.
Yao grinned cockily while seeing this. "So, does that mean…we can finally start invading our enemies for real!?" he then asked loudly while his grin never faded away.
"Hold your horses, young lord" Jiang interrupted Yao's thinking. "The Eternal Emperor has not yet given us such orders and where are not to do anything until he does. Therefore, we are to remain here in Youdu" he then reminded the young boy, who merely grumbled impatiently in return.
On the giant and long wall called Màncháng, Hell
The giant wall that both Togabitos and Kushanadas had been constructing on for many years was finally complete. The wall itself was a wonder to behold, even though it was built in the realm of the unforgiven. Because of its long structure and symbolic gesture, the wall was called the Màncháng. Even now, Emperor Wang Yanluo was standing on it along with some of his favored Liántōng, as well as five members of the Fahai: Bohai, Ping, Ling, Longwei and Niu. There was a reason for why he had summoned them specifically.
The Eternal Emperor was surveying what had gathered before him while his Liántōng watched from the sidelines. The five Fahai had arrived alongside soldiers of the imperial army, who had begun to occupy the many watchtowers the wall had. Almost all of them bowed before the infernal leader on their knees, knowing better than to show disrespect towards their superior. Yanluo grinned as his eyes blazed endlessly.
"I am glad that all of you could answer my call, Bohai the Water Crocodile, Ping the Earth Boar, Ling the Wood Monkey, Longwei the Fire Dragon and Niu the Metal Bull. Each of you represent an element that has been vital to the construction of the Màncháng" the imposing Togabito told them in a delighted mood, even addressing them by their titles.
"WE HUMBLY ACCEPT YOUR GRATITUDE, ETERNAL EMPEROR" the five Togabitos said in unison, almost as if they were in the military.
The red-skinned demon was happy to see that he still commanded respect among his people. "I will gladly reward your services by allowing you five to coordinate our assault on our enemies!" he then exclaimed before moving towards the other end of the wall. "Now, come here all of you! Let us gaze upon this change, as the barriers that have long separated Hell from the other realms finally breaks today!" he exclaimed as they all gathered beside him.
He and his followers watched as they could all see nothing but an endless wasteland lying before their eyes, not to mention the pools of yellow lava that was also located along the giant wall. The skies above were grey and red as always. While most were patient, Guan Gong did not necessarily seem impressed by what he was seeing
"Well? I don't see any changes around here!" the thick-bearded man spoke up while crossing his arms with open dispassion. "All I see here is nothing but the endless wastes that always make me sick to my stomach!" he then added to his explanation.
Chiang Kai glanced at him sternly. "Hold your tongue Guan Gong. Patience is what is required at the moment" the serpentine-like Togabito pointed out to him with dispassion.
Gong merely grunted in return, not bothering in paying attention to what Kai had just told him.
The winds blew in the horizon and that was the only thing that could be seen. However, this silence would not last long. Before everyone knew it, the shaking that had affected Hell once, appeared again. But this time, it did not feel like an actual earthquake, considering that the shaking did not damage the wall. However, that did not stop some Yanluo's followers from being slightly discomforted.
"What kind of magic is this!?" Khuan wondered as he was stunned by feeling this.
"I can see that this shaking does not damage the wall!" Xuannü pointed out before turning her eyes on her superior with a formal bow. "Eternal Emperor, care to explain what is really happening now?" she asked while feeling slightly afraid.
Yanluo grinned widely, thus exposing his demonic teeth. The red-skinned Togabito gathered an enormous amount of Spiritual Pressure that even managed to intimidate many of his followers, with the notable exceptions being the Fahai and the Liántōng. Most soldiers found themselves kneeling beside their emperor as he was delighted by what he was seeing.
"At last! We Togabitos will finally be able to exact our vengeance upon this wretched world and its creators!" Yanluo declared while his eyes were burning with fury. "Because of the Soul King being dead, it has enabled us to do something that none of the unworthy Togabitos could ever hope to accomplish!" he added to his declaration.
All of a sudden, the empty landscape before them started to change drastically. Shadows began to envelop all that stood before them and it felt as if Hell itself was dragged upwards towards. The wall remained intact and was dragged along as well. What was the meaning of this?
Somewhere in the countryside of the Soul Society
While the Wandenreich was resuming their assault on the Sereitei, the Souls dwelling in the surrounding countryside had taken notice of the earthquakes and were feared for their lives. However, thanks to Ukitake's sacrifice, the earthquake stopped. For the Souls that lived far away from the Rukon District, this only confirmed that the Soul King had both died and been saved at the same time. Therefore, they thought that all was safe in the Soul Society. But not for long.
When Yhwach had absorbed the Soul King and taken his place, he had begun creating a new home for his followers. Therefore, he let Sereitei be, as the place was already in ruins thanks to the attacks that had been ongoing. For the Souls dwelling in the districts near the Sereitei, it was seen as a victor against the Quincies, but that was hardly the truth.
In fact, two threats had now entered the Soul Society and it was not just the fact that Yhwach had become the new Soul King, as well as making Wahrwelt and gaining new followers and loyalists. The second threat however, was something did no dweller in the Soul Society had at least expected to happen. The only ones who knew were the Quincies and the Arrancars. Thanks to Yhwach becoming the new Soul King, it gave him the opportunity to break the barriers that separated the many realms and bring them into the Soul Society. Considering that the Human World and Hueco Mundo's barriers were too big and strong, Yhwach had already begun destroying the weakest barriers that existed in the world. And that was the barriers that separated Hell from the Soul Society.
In a secluded area where local farmers lived, many children were playing in the nearby woods. This was an area where the Soul Society's tall mountains could be found. Safe to say, this was an area between the Soul Society's thick forest and the mountains. There existed farmlands on the green fields, as well as small villages. Considering that the Souls lived far away from the Sereitei, the 13 Court Guard Squads failed to detect what has taking shape in that area. Because this once secluded but peaceful area between the thick forest and the towering mountains that kissed the sky.
As the children and adults minded their own businesses as usual, whether it was playing, working or even fishing, something drastically happened and they could all feel the entire ground beneath them shake. The Souls were filled with disbelief, wondering whether it was a new earthquake. However, they could see that the nature around them did not disintegrate and it made them wonder what was really happening.
However, the moment they could see the sky turning red and grey, they knew that something was not right. There was more to come as something as imposing began to reveal itself for the Souls and they were stunned and shocked. They were even unable to move, as they could see that something long and imposing was stretching itself from the mountains to the thick forests. But the thick forest that were once peaceful and filled with life, had become tainted and corrupted, all thanks to the pools of yellow lava polluting it.
The nearby Souls got a closer look as they could see a giant and imposing wall standing right before their eyes. Yes, it was indeed the Màncháng standing before them, as Wang Yanluo himself was standing at the edge sprouting out fire across the green fields. This could only mean one thing: the Diyu Empire and Hell in general had been integrated into the Soul Society.
The many Souls ran in disarray, as they were practically powerless to stop the incoming army that was waiting behind this imposing wall. Yanluo laughed out loud as he watched them run away.
"THIS IS THE END, SOUL SOCIETY!" Yanluo exclaimed loudly while raising his burning whip chains in the air. "THE TIME OF THE TOGABITOS HAS FINALLY COME! FROM NOW ON, IT IS YOU WILL END UP BECOMING THE SINNERS! EMBRACE YOUR SHAME AND ANNIHIALATION!" the red-skinned Togabito added to his angry declaration.
While this had occurred, someone had indeed been watching this from a tree with a pair of binoculars. It was Kukaku Shiba, who was watching the fires as well as the imposing wall taking shape in the space between the mountains and the thick forest. Kukaku did not put away her binoculars. She simply dropped them out of shock, not caring that they got broken. The busty woman even dropped her pipe in her mouth, not caring about it either. All that she cared about was the fact that Hell had finally been able to enter the Soul Society, or more like become a part of it.
"My God…" Kukaku uttered out those words lowly by what she had seen. "This isn't happening…" she uttered out words lowly again, before she angrily exclaimed in outrage. "THIS ISN'T FUCKING HAPPENING!" she yelled out in shock and anger at the same time.
To be continued…
Author's note: That was Hell for now. I just wanted to take a break from the Shinigamis and Quincies and make sure that Hell gets into the story as well. I feel that Kubo somewhat neglected to include all races in this final arc, so I have taken the opportunity (I fully respect the work Kubo had done). So in this chapter, the Togabitos gets delved right into the conflict. Now the next chapter WILL focus on the Sternritters and their rebellion, as well as a backstory to some of the Quincies mostly Bazz-B and Haschwalth.
Here are some of the new terms that we learned in this chapter.
Màncháng – Chinese for "Very Long / Endless": This wall has become a symbol and testament to the might of the Diyu Empire. To reach the imperial city, let alone the imperial palace, one must cross the giant wall that separates the Togabitos from their enemies. With Hell having been brought into the Soul Society, the Souls and Shinigamis are terrified of the fact that a new threat has emerged for them, not just Arrancars and Quincies.
Here are some of the voice actors that I have chosen for the Togabitos introduced in this chapter. (Fun fact: for Fan and Yao, I was inspired how each of these voice actresses voiced Wednesday and Pugsley Addams from the 1992 animated version of the Addams Family. In my opinion the relationship between Fan and Yao are similar to those siblings)
Meng Fan - Debi Derryberry
Han Yao - Jeannie Elias
Chan Chu - Kirk Thornton
Chiang Kai - Doug Stone
See you all next time!
