Welcome back to another Episode of Caught In The Fall! Last time our Heroes made it to Hueco Mundo and gained some Drip! But in all seriousness, Welcome back, and thank you all for the support on the last chapter! Even after the big talk about shipping that happened last time. Anyhow before we get to today's Chapter and Comment Spotlight, I have a few announcements. First off my Six Years of Writing Fanfiction is coming soon! Good Lord, has it really been that long? But yeah I plan to be releasing some stories on that anniversary of my being on the site soon, so be ready for that, in fact, one of them already came out! Second off thank you all for the support so far on one of my most recent stories realizing, Veteran Of The Psychic Wars! If you have not seen it, go and check it out! But enough shilling, Let us get onto the COMMENT SPOTLIGHT!
Shinigami200 says: Your power leveling is confusing to me archer could definitely beat Saber but it's the same for Saber herself
MS says: I can definitely see an argument for both winning, in my opinion, Saber has far more raw power output than anything Archer can dish out, at least from the things that don't kill him when he projects it. It wasn't really meant to be a fight to see who's stronger but in my opinion, Saber would win, comments from Archer himself and how after she got her mana restored she wrecked him immediately show that she is superior. Even in reality marble Archer had full confidence Saber could avoid and even block enough swords to not instantly kill her when she was in front of Shirou. That's just my opinion but I can see how both can win.
Ethor Says: Besides, Let's face it. When it comes to power scaling, and without spoiling much for what is gonna happen, there are gonna be a lot of serious power scaling shenanigans going down in the future.
Shinigami200 says: Gea Bolg doesn't rewind time what happens is it gets rid of the cause which is the throwing but keeps the effect which is the stabbing in the heart the only reason someone like Saber and Archer is able to dodge/block it is cause saber has A rank instinct her B rank luck and for archer Lancers attack was to focus on power it's basically a second attack separate from the one he used on saber
MS says: I know it doesn't rewind time. I just said it like that to give a similar effect the anime showed off. It shows Saber blocking it and then it rewinds to show her "block" it again before it stabs her. I'll admit doing that gave the wrong impression but I mostly did it for a visual effect. I'm glad you pointed this out though because I didn't initially think about it when I wrote it so now I'll be more careful when trying to give a visual.
Randomguy0110100100110 says: And don't you think It's quite unfair and disrespectful/insulting (The Blade is Me) that Shirou can copy Zanpakuto
MS says: I'm gonna be honest, in my own personal opinion, not at all. Like I understand how it could be because the Soul Reapers have to go through so much development while Shirou and Archer can just get it for free. But that's the point, that's the only power they have, they are meant to copy whatever sword they see. While yes, the debate on if it's even possible is there and I addressed that it's just Grail shenanigans which will be further explained later in the story but forget that for a second. Shirou Emiya is a copier, an endless arsenal, a faker. Gilgamesh calling him a faker is actually a valid insult because he's correct, Shirou has nothing that's his own, and none of his weapons are ones he himself owns. That's the whole point of his ability, other people can have a legendary sword passed on for generations, and the power can be tied to a bloodline, the soul, to anything really, but guess what Shirou can just copy it and make it his own. That doesn't invalidate the Blade Is Me because that doesn't tie into Shirou. The development Ichigo goes through won't change, it will never change, just because someone is able to copy his ability doesn't mean the development is worthless. I can see why people might think it does, but I just don't think it does. This isn't going to get in the way of any Bleach characters development, I'll make sure of that, but that's the whole point of Unlimited Blade Works. It's a factory able to produce replicas as long as the user is able to understand the weapon, it's basically a massive fuck you to everyone who considers a weapon their own and even still Shirou can't use them at full power. They will always be worse than the original so no, I don't think it ruins it. It doesn't add anything to it but it doesn't ruin it.
Ethor says: … Imma be honest I can't say much more MS said it all.
Randomguy0110100100110 says: Wait uryu and Orihime are dating?
Ethor says: Yes… Nuff said… Ok, there are things to be said. Again most ships that we cover have to go by BOTH OF US. And both of us were fine with the idea of giving both Uryu and Orihime a shot at being happy together, especially because Ichigo is gonna be shipped with someone else. While yes, this seems as if it is kinda out of left field. But there is a basis for this. Like the fact that Uryu has a slight crush on her and is willing to put his life AND powers on the line for her twice over the course of the Soul Society and Hecuo Mundo arc. At this point, she must feel the same about him. Does that mean that Uryu was the 1000% best choice for this… well that is yet to be seen.
Chapter 17: (Home to Hell Arc: Part Two) The Gate
Written By: Ethorthebayleef and MSLMGamer
The gang continues on to the city for a bit in silence, tension still in the air from their previous encounter. Rukia and Renji are still skeptical of Archer since he somehow is able to replicate their Zanpakutos in both Shikai and Bankai. It's unheard of in the Soul Society, not even Aizen is able to do that, at least not to their knowledge. They doubt even Yamamoto Genryusai, the captain of the first division, has even heard of this ability.
"Archer, are you ok?" Saber asks.
"I'm fine, why do you ask?"
"I know you Archer, you let stuff like this bother you whether you realize it or not," Saber says.
"It's fine really. Just gotta watch our backs now." Archer says.
"Looks like it but I've got your back. We all do, don't forget that." Saber reassures him.
"Thanks, Saber."
"Looks like we're closing in on the city. Just got to get around the wall." Caster says.
"I've got an idea!" Lancer says running for a bit then jumping up into the air.
"Wait you dumbass, do you want to alert them to our presence?!" Shirou asks.
"GÁE BOLG"
Lancer throws the spear at the wall and a massive explosion goes off, after a bit the spear returns and the smoke clears. It didn't break through the wall before it left a lot of it cracked, another attack could break the entire wall down. As Lancer is charging up another attack, Chad walks up to the wall and simply punches it, busting through and completely destroying it.
"You know I softened it up for you right?!" Lancer asks, trying to sound unimpressed.
Chad ignores him and walks inside the building the wall belonged to. They enter a giant room and see multiple hallways, every one of them leading somewhere different than they assumed.
"How are we going to find out which one she's in?" Yuzu asks.
"There's an obvious answer here. We split up and cover more ground." Karin suggests.
"That's pretty much our only option, so who's splitting up with who?" Ichigo asks.
"I think I have a way to decide," Nel says as she jumps off of Shirou's back. "I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 6, whoever tells me the same number goes on the same team!"
"This could go horribly!" Lancer says.
"I agree completely," Berserker says.
They each tell Nel a number and she reveals the teams. The first team is Ichigo, Shirou, and Lancer, the second team is, Caster, Karin, Rin, Uryu, and Pesche, the third team is Velvet, Rider, and Taiga, the fourth team is Assassin, Archer, and Saber, the fifth team is Berserker, Yuzu, Chad, Renji, and Dondochakka, and the sixth "team" is Rukia since nobody else picked the same number she picked. Nel decided to go with Ichigo, Shirou, and Lancer mainly because she likes Shirou and both he and Ichigo saved her from the sinkhole.
"Looks like great team balance to me," Rin says sarcastically.
"Don't doubt my game little girl!" Nel says.
"Little girl?! I'm older than you!" Rin snaps back but Nel just sticks her tongue at her.
(With Ichigo, Shiro, Lancer, and Nel)
Splitting off from the group was hard for Shiro, sure he knew for a fact Rin would be fine… but that was not what made him so worried. Over the course of the past week that he and the others had spent together, minus Rukia and Renji of course, Ichigo and his friends told him stories of their time in the Soul Society, and what they said about Aizen was already shocking enough from Sado and Uryu's accounts of the event, but Ichigo was scared of the power Sosuke Aizen wielded… that was enough to make Shiro nervous in general because if there was one thing that he knew about Ichigo it would be his response to the word fear… I.E. he pointed and laughed at it before and after kicking its ass.
"You're worried, aren't you kid?" asked Lancer, "Don't worry, I doubt any of our enemies are gonna be too bad for you to deal with. And if they are not bad for you they certainly won't be for little old Rin!"
"That in of itself is not what I am worried about. I am more scared about Aizen than Rin's safety. I know that Rin is able to defend herself… it is just that I don't think that if any of us encountered him… we will be ready for him when he does show himself."
Ichigo stopped running and turned to Shiro, smiling slightly. "It will work out, Shiro-Kun, I bet if all of us find Orihime and get out of here before he notices we should be fine. And if we do find him before her, we have each other to fight beside you know!"
"YHA! Sharo-Chan and Ishigo-Chan can take out Assian without any issue!" said Nel in agreement.
"I doubt those two alone can get the job done, but hey worth a shot I guess," said Lancer
"Oh? What overconfidence! Are you all able to back it up with skill, however?"
The group, obviously startled by their new pursuer, got into battle positions, searching high and low for where this mysterious voice came from. Ichigo pulsed his spiritual pressure outward, he had to thank both Velvet and Caster for teaching him and his sisters that one, and let his own spiritual pressure bounce back to the group.
"COME OUT ASSHOLE!" said Lancer
"Language dude! Nel is here!" said Shiro
"Not important right now dude!" said Lancer
"Found him. Lancer, don't use your Phantasm yet, Just toss the spear where I tell you." said Ichigo, "Shiro, can you cover Nel once things get dicey?"
"Yup!" said Shiro
"Got it!" said Lancer before launching the spear forward.
The spear was launched forward, careening toward wherever it was meant to go, straight into the heart of the enemy. But the enemy leaped down toward the ground and focused their Hierro into their hand… and caught Gae Bolg by the spear tip.
"There you are!"
"I am sorry to say Ninio, but you are not going to be able to beat me with such a weak through." said the Arrancar, "Ichigo Kurosaki, Shiro Emiya, Cu Cuhullan. As a gatekeeper of this place and the 103 privon Espada. I was informed of your arrival by lord Aizen, and I welcome you all. My name is Dordoni Alessandro Del Socaccio, and I am here for the strongest among you. And judging by that toss of your lance I am assuming that Grimmjow really was not as powerful as I had originally thought if this is the best you have, Cu Cuhullan." said Dordoni before tossing the spear back toward Lancer
"Besides knowing our names, I am guessing that you know how to block our powers now," said Lancer
"No. In fact, this is something that we have had since our birth in this world. In fact, Ichigo here has that same power." said Dordoni
"That explains how you were able to take a building to the face," said Shiro
"So what do you want?" asked Ichigo, "Don't get me wrong you look like a nice guy, but why do you want to fight me?"
"The same reason as to why you want to fight me." said Dordoni, "You and I are opposed on different sides. I want you dead so then my orders are fulfilled, you want me dead so then you are able to find and save your little Orihime Ione! But then again, I am not here to spill philosophy Ninio."
"I am glad to hear that because right now I just want you out of the way!" said Ichigo
"I am glad to hear that you are confident Ninio." said Dordoni, "But I doubt that I would be as much of a pushover as you think I am!"
"Shiro, Lancer, keep Nel safe ok." said Ichigo "This might get hectic."
"Don't need to tell me twice!" said Shiro
"Don't die kid," said Lancer
"You know I won't," said Ichigo, "Ok Dordoni! You wanted a fight! Then I might as well give you one!"
"Then Let us begin Boy!" said Dordoni