Renji and the hunter Dante tore across Seireitei. Any Hollow unlucky enough to be in their path was dispatched without a step faltering. The two warriors continued side by side, heading North, the single most place with unnatural spirit pressure.
As they moved, Renji was finding himself more in tune with the unnatural energy that had arisen. He was now getting an idea as to Dante's energy; it was unnatural but it had a weak pattern. Dante looked back at Renji "What you thinking about so much?" Dante asked
"Nothing" Renji replied.
Dante suddenly froze, grabbing Renji by his Kimono and throwing him away from the rooftop as it exploded in a tower of flames; Dante had barely managed to dodge the explosion when Vincent Kuchiki descended upon him.
"Quit following me" Vincent ordered as he kicked Dante in the chest before firing another blast of energy at him. Dante bounded out of the way, drawing his pistol and firing several rounds at Vincent who struck them aside with the case of his sword.
"I don't understand why you keep following me, it's getting irritating" Vincent told him.
"What can I say? You left an impression on me" Dante laughed. Renji got to his feet angrily, drawing his sword.
"Vincent Kuchiki! I demand you release Byakuya!" Renji roared.
"Great, you picked him up" Vincent sighed, going for his sword "I guess there isn't any other alternative" Dante's pistol clicked
"Leave it out Vincent, you'll be dead before that sword is drawn" Dante sighed waving his pistol.
"Dante, dear Dante, you don't understand" Vincent mocked putting his arms out at his side "This isn't the demon world; I have some new tricks, want to see?" Before Dante could react, Vincent had drawn his sword and pointed it at the sky.
"You'll have to upgrade your skills Dante, son of Sparta" Vincent smiled. Thunder sounded above them as a flash of dark light emanated from Vincent's Zanpakuto.
Nothing happened for several heartbeats, maybe longer. Then above them the sky began to darken; hollows, tens of thousands of the dark souls began to appear. These were not the straight forward hollows Renji knew or the incredibly strong ones that had appeared from Dante's world. These hollows were so numerous in number that their lack of power meant nothing. They curled around in the sky above Vincent Kuchiki, waiting for his orders.
"Now that's a trick" Dante laughed. Renji stared at him in shock. How could he be so laid back? Renji thought in amazement.
"Here's mine" Dante smiled.
-Seireitei
Captain Commander Yamamoto was on the way North of Seireitei when they sensed the new rise in power. As they looked over they saw the summoned Hollows.
"More of them!" A soldier shouted. Not the brightest of soldiers, clearly.
More? We now have a large number of Hollows on two fronts; I must split the force in two. What is that new energy? Captain Yamamoto's mind was in disarray; things were going from bad to worse to nigh-chaotic.
-Rukongai
Devil Trigger – Described in the books of Sparta as the single most powerful form a demon can take. "I bow to no man in the form of a god among men, using my weapon which bears my name no Magik can withstand, no power can match the true form of Sparta; the one demon who, when all others are forsaken, stands tall and defeats the demon king" – Book of Sparta Chapter 7
Renji was in awe looking at this clearly hollow form who stood tall and proud. His wings beat an even stroke, the heat from his being was incredible; as though the pits of hell themselves had opened. Steam curled around the group of people, the darkness above illuminated by Dante's red aura.
"Devil Trigger" Vincent smiled "You never revealed that in our battles in the Demon World"
"It's just one of those things" Dante replied holding out his sword "Now what do you say?"
"I say it makes life easier for me" Vincent admitted, holding his sword aloft "Attack then, Dante, let us see what your new strength has to offer"
Seireitei
The Shinigami had been split into two halves; one of which was heading towards Dante and Vincent. As they moved onward an explosion shook Seireitei; the sky flashed red as the energy dissipated.
"Move!" Hitsugaya ordered, he had been paired with Captain Ukitake to take care of the new problem; the majority of captains had moved towards the north with the Captain-Commander. The Shinigami tore across the rooftops, the tiles upon which were now rattling audibly as more explosions rippled out from further a field.
Rukongai
Dante clashed swords with Vincent who seemed to be enjoying himself. His sword flashed silver and cut a swathe through the air currents; the outcome of which knocked Renji several places backwards.
"Do you feel that Dante?" Vincent enquired as he flipped backwards in the air, avoiding a sword attack "They have sent soldiers after us" Vincent finished as he hovered in the air.
"So what? You're the one they're after" Dante told him as he dipped his wings and shot towards Vincent who flash-stepped out of the way.
"I don't know if you've noticed that you are creating a Reiatsu element? You can be sensed now" Vincent informed him.
"And what does that have to do with anything?" Dante asked as he attacked again. Rather than dodge, Vincent met him head on; their swords colliding and sending out a steady stream of spiritual pressure.
"They will think you a hollow; we call them demons" Vincent spoke to Dante as though he was a slow child.
"Then I better get this over with quickly" Dante said, kicking Vincent in the leg, drawing his attention before narrowly missing Vincent's head with his blade.
"Best of all; I have a neat trick involving reiatsu. Do you want to see it?" Vincent grinned. Dante swore knowing what was coming.
"Seal!" Vincent roared, swinging his Zanpakuto at Dante. It was a race against time in microseconds. Dante was transforming back into himself as the strike of energy which would seal his fate tore towards him. He watched as his demonic vision changed back to that of a normal person but the beam was getting closer; if he did not change back completely before the beam struck him then he would die along with the other countless unfortunates.
The beam collided with Dante, a white hot stream of energy engulfing him; knocking him clean from the sky. Renji watched, fearful that this man had gone down the same road as his Captain. As Dante fell from the sky he twirled, landing neatly on his feet. He was breathing hard but at least he was alive.
"Not quick enough" Dante laughed patting himself down, checking for any injuries but he had managed to get away scot-free.
"Debatable" Vincent merely said as he landed. Behind Dante a white circle appeared, from which a powerful energy billowed. Dante was blown clean off his feet, hurtling towards Vincent who had his sword out in front of him.
"It's all a game of skill" Vincent whispered into Dante's ear as the warrior hit the sword and was pushed right the way down to the hilt. Dante looked deep into Vincent's eyes and spoke slowly.
"You know you're not safe, ever" Dante whispered "I will get you" Vincent shrugged
"Not here" Vincent replied "Vanquish" Dante turned to ash as Vincent's Zanpakuto's blade flashed green. With a strong gust the ashes scattered to the wind, spreading out into the clearing sky.
Sometime later
When the Captains arrived with the soldiers to the place where the demons had been seen they found Renji stood side by side with Vincent Kuchiki.
"Lieutenant Abarai? What is the meaning of this?" Hitsugaya asked. He was amazed to see them stood facing each other peacefully, not at each others throats as Hitsugaya would have anticipated.
"Where is the Captain-Commander?" Renji asked "I have sworn to accompany Vincent Kuchiki to him; a warriors promise"
The soldiers and Captains were aghast; a warriors promise was unbreakable, especially one sworn by a Lieutenant of one of the Gotei 13. By Seireitei's own rules; they could not touch Vincent Kuchiki.
"He…he's gone north" Hitsugaya said "A warriors promise? Why would you do such a thing?"
"A story safe for another time" Vincent cut across "We have to go if we are to get rid of those and save the Captains"
"You mean Captain Zaraki Kenpachi and Byakuya Kuchiki?" Ukitake asked
"Yes" Vincent answered "Now let us go; from what I can sense Byakuya is bordering on the edge; much longer and I won't be able to save him"
So the Captains made their way North, Accompanied by a man they had been ordered to hunt down and kill, but some orders override others and in this case the warriors promise was the uppermost order.
Elsewhere
Byakuya groaned sitting up; the last thing he remembered was the battle with Vincent Kuchiki. Looking around it looked like he was in the InBetween Dimension that linked Soul Society to the Human World. The walls seemed to be made of the same dark purple substance. Byakuya got to his feet, lifting his Zanpakuto as he got up.
"That there sword will do you little good here" someone spoke. Byakuya turned to face the person who spoke to him. It was a middle aged female dressed in a long flowing blue dress decorated in flowers.
"Who are you?" she asked "You seem a long way from home"
"I am Byakuya Kuchiki, Head of the Kuchiki Family in Seireitei and Captain of the 6th Guard Squadron" Byakuya explained "Where are we?"
"Far away from everything" the woman explained vaguely "I see people come and go all the time, but never someone so intact; you must have a strong vision of self"
"I am a Captain, I cannot lose control at difficult periods" Byakuya dismissed coldly.
"You may as well; there is no escaping this place and you have been out for a while, already the light in your eyes dim; you are not long for here" the woman explained regretfully. Byakuya turned his back on her
"I will escape this place; be well" he said before flash stepping; hurtling down the corridor. He, Byakuya Kuchiki, would find a way out of this hell.