Chapter 15: Team 3
"What do you mean it's airborne," Chad asked as Garland led him through the Seireitei.
"Baldo thinks there's a possibility people were infected in other ways," Garland said rounding a corner, "Our mission's to find that Espada and defeat it."
They rounded a building, "What's Baldo basing this theory on?"
"His gut," Garland answered.
"That's it?"
"His father's Lieutenant Ida fell victim to the toxin's spell but Baldo insists that he doesn't drink water. He concluded that the chemical had to be spread another way. He doesn't have any real proof so by definition that's trusting his gut," Garland answered adding, "Though his hunches are usually right."
Chad paused. "How are we supposed to protect ourselves if that's the case?"
"Baldo asked Captain Hitsugaya to freeze the air," Garland said as they turned another corner, "He figured the cold weather would weigh the toxin down making it harder to breathe in. Hopefully delay any corruption."
"Then we'll be infected."
"Not us," Garland said, "Baldo, also, thought heating the air would kill the toxin like boiling the water. Captain Komamura, Rotondo, and I are using our spiritual energy to heat the air around us."
"Is that why I'm warm even though the air's cold?"
"Yes. It's a technique you learn training with a dragon," Garland answered "But if we don't stop this Espada, it won't mean anything to Hitsugaya's team."
They rounded another corner, "How are we going to find it?"
"Already did," Garland came to a halt with Chad stopping beside him.
Arriving in Sajin Komamura's private garden, they found a slender Soul Reaper with green hair running down the small of his back. He stood on the little bridge over the pond.
"Hmm? I'm surprised you found me," the Soul Reaper said with a feminine voice, "How did you find me?" The question was directed at Chad.
Garland stepped forward, "I am Squad 14s third seat and best tracker, Garland. I just followed my nose."
"Oh so your doggy found me," the Soul Reaper laughed.
"Don't underestimate me," Garland growled.
"Well third seat, will you tell me your full name," the Soul Reaper asked.
"Garland is my full name."
Their opponent hunched in laughter, "Isn't it customary for a pet to accept its masters surname as its own?"
"I am my own master," Garland growled.
"That's too funny," the Soul Reaper laughed.
"Brazo Derecha de Gigante," Chad yelled throwing a wave of energy with an armored right arm at the green haired enemy. His armor expanded like a shield closer to the top of his arm.
Dodging the Soul Reaper looked angrily at Chad, "How dare you interrupt our conversation?"
"That wasn't a conversation. You were making fun of his name," Chad replied, "I happen to think Garland is a fine name and I will defend it." Chad shifted to a fighting stance.
"Then tell me your name," the Soul Reaper asked.
Chad paused a moment and looked at Garland, "Chad. Just Chad."
"Very well one names. I am Violet Sage, a servant to the great, Algera Sponge," the Soul Reaper pulled his zanpakuto.
"A Fraccion," Chad said, "A servant to an Espada but they don't normally have a zanpakuto."
"This is thanks to my training as a Soul Reaper. I am the 13th seat of Squad 5," Violet held the sword and ran his hand over it, "Bend with the wind, Willow Breeze."
Violet transformed before their eyes. His feet changed into thick tree roots and his body encrusted by tree bark. Vines wrapped the length of his wooden arms and daggling almost seven feet on either side of his hands. A broken Hollow mask resembling a Venus fly trap rested just beneath his broccoli looking canopy.
"What do we do now," Chad stared at the overgrown tree.
"Now you die," Violet laughed shooting acid that melted the bridge.
"I wish Rotondo was here," Garland said, "He's the expert at knocking down trees."
"Knock it down, huh," Chad grunted sending a wave of energy at the tree.
Violet deflected the wave with its vines then whipped them crumbling the stone bench. The battle waged back and forth. Using his roots to anchor into the ground, Violet kept from toppling over and countered with either his vines or his acid.
Chad and Garland dodged the whips but while Garland was landing the Fraccion fired an acid attack anticipating where the wolf would land.
Chad used the shield sized portion of his armored arm to block it and screamed in pain as the acid sizzled through his armor.
"Chad," Garland yelled as the man fell to a knee.
"I'm alright," he breathed heavy, "Pay attention to the battle."
"Now you're mine," Violet fired his vines into the ground. Suddenly the vines from around the garden bound Chad and Garlands' arms and legs.
"As long as I'm around plants, I can bend them to my will. Just as I can with people," Violet laughed victoriously "Spore" A cloud of dust fell toward the ground immediately. The tree yelled, "What?"
Garland wagged his tail drawing his collar above his fur, "Howl in the Moonlight, Fenrir."
Thin strips of metal extended from the collar down the front side of Garland's paws and along his spine until where his tail transformed into a double sided axe. Wagging his tail, Garland sliced the vines holding him and Chad.
"How did you get free," Violet yelled in disbelief.
"Don't you feel it," Garland asked then elaborated, "It's as if we're battling in the heart of winter. Your plants are going dormant and your spores are weighed down by freezing air."
Violet raised his vines descending them upon Chad and Garland, "No, this can't be."
"Follow me, Chad. It's time to end this," Garland ordered.
"Right."
Leading Garland used his tail to lop off Violet's vines then leapt into the air drawing the Fraccion's acid attack. Garland flash stepped cutting off the tree's arms with his tail.
Following his falling limbs, Violet found Chad less than a foot away. The human pulled his left hand back balled in a fist.
"Brazo Izquierda Del Diablo," Chad recited as his left arm turned white with a purple strip and spirit energy concentrated around his fist. He punched Violet's base sending a ripple of energy the length of the tree's trunk.
"No, that's impossible," Violet screamed, "If I die, I'll take your freedom with me." An enormous cloud of spores released into the air that expanded the size of the garden.
"It's too much to freeze," Chad watched.
"Chad lay down in a ball," Garland commanded. The human obeyed without hesitation. Standing over Chad, Garland looked skyward shouted, "Howling Solar Flare!"
Intense flame expanded from Garland's metal strip that turned everything in the once vibrant garden into ash including Violet Sage.
"Sorry, Captain Komamura, I know this was your favorite place in the Seireitei," Garland said with his collar sinking back beneath the fur surrounding his neck. The wolf started falling but Chad caught him.
"I have you," Chad said lifting the wolf on his back. Garland saw the acid scarred the human's right arm. Chad looked around the charcoal black garden "That was some attack."
"It's too destructive form my taste," Garland continued weakly, "Fenrir strengthens my natural spirit energy from a spiraling shield into a focused blast that I can release anywhere along the blade. Luckily I hardly ever have to use it."
"Where to now," Chad asked, "Our mission's accomplished."
"Pick a direction and walk," Garland responded.
"What are you doing," Chad asked as a soothing light warms his right arm.
"Doing my best to heal you in case we run into enemies."
"You should be resting."
"It's alright," Garland smiled, "It's only going to be a little at a time. I know my limits."