A.N: Let the battle of La Torre, began. Enjoy!

Chapter 8: Countdown to Destruction

There was smoke and dust surrounding where Sentencía had fired. The smoke slowly cleared, revealing a giant gray dome in the middle of a giant crater. From the coms room, Benito's eyes widened when he saw this. Unbelievable, he thought. That thing actually stopped Sentencía?

From inside the dome, the invaders looked around in awe. "Unbelievable," said Momo. "To think that a barrier spell actually stopped such a powerful blast of energy."

Akio looked at Hachi. "We all owe you our lives, Hachi, thanks."

Hachi smiled at him weakly. "Saving my comrades doesn't require thanks from said comrades. I would've done it with or without a debt."

"Even so." Said Akio.

Hachi nodded as the dome started to crumble. "I've spent years developing this technique." Explained Hachi. "I've seen so many devastating attacks in my career, I wanted to create the ultimate defense that could protect any area as long as the right amount of energy is put in."

The dome soon completely crumbled. "Sadly, the area I protected and the amount of energy I had to put in to stop that cannon cost me a good amount of Spirit Energy." Hachi continued, collapsing.

Love, Mashirō, and Hiyori immediately appeared at Hachi's side, supporting him. "You all right, Man?" Love asked.

Hachi nodded. "I'm just exhausted," he said. "I just need to rest for awhile."

"Something tells me they're not going to give us such a reprieve." Sajin Komamura said grimly.

"Well done," Benito's voice appeared in the wind again. "I never expected you to survive. You people are just full of surprises aren't you?"

"How do you expect to stop us now, Benito?" Ichigo asked. "Your trump card failed, there's nothing stopping us from getting into La Torre."

Benito laughed. It was a dark and cruel laugh. "Don't think that I'm so shortsighted, Ichigo. While I admit that I'm not on Sōsuke's level when it came to planning, I'm still smart enough to have a fair share of backup plans."

With those words, several Arrancar charged out of the entrance of La Torre. "Charge, comrades!" Cortez Orgulloso was in the lead. "Fight in the name of His Majesty!"

"Did you really think I didn't plan for this?" Benito continued. "If my men don't stop you, Sentencía will once it recharges."

Benito chuckled. "Let the countdown to your destruction begin, you have exactly twenty minutes before Sentencía fires again."

Everyone's eyes widened. "Twenty minutes?" Momo repeated.

"Crap, this is bad." Said Tetsuzaemon Iba.

"We're not gonna make it at this rate!" Hanatarō Yamada panicked.

"I'm not going down yet!" Kenpachi Zaraki shouted. "Ikkaku, Yumichika, it's time to fight!"

"Yes sir!" Ikkaku and Yumchika replied in unison.

"Captain Zaraki's right, twenty minutes should be all we need." Said Komamura. "Tetsuzaemon, lets go."

"You got it, Captain Komamura." Said Tetsuzaemon.

Something doesn't add up. Akio thought. Why would Benito send his own soldiers knowing that if that cannon fires again, they'll get in the crossfire? He's not seriously...

Akio was suddenly broken out of his thoughts with the feeling of a hand on his shoulder. Akio turned to see Ichigo looking at him sternly. "I'm going to knock out that cannon." He simply said.

Akio nodded. "And Akio," Ichigo continued. "I understand why you did that, but don't ever freeze up again."

Akio's eyes widened. Had Ichigo noticed that? "You're the leader of this invasion force, you can't ever freeze up and give into despair. You should've kept a brave face in the face of danger, regardless of whether Hachi would've stopped that attack or not. Keeping a brave face in the face of doom is one of the many qualities of a leader. Keep that in mind if you really want to become Head Captain." Ichigo said, lecturing his good friend.

Akio looked ashamed of himself, but nodded. "Ichigo, I..."

"Don't apologize. Just shut up and fight. And don't worry, I'll have that cannon knocked out in no time."

Akio nodded, regaining his confidence. "Right."

With that, Akio charged while Ichigo raised his spiritual pressure. "Bankai!" He shouted.

Zangetsu changed to Tensa Zangetsu. "Rukia, I'll meet you halfway." Said Ichigo.

Rukia nodded. "Got it, go take out that cannon, Ichigo."

Ichigo leapt off the ground and flew towards the top of La Torre.

From inside of the coms room, Benito raised an eyebrow at Ichigo flying towards Sentencía. "Brash as ever." He mused.

Benito turned to the exit. "I'm going to prepare the men, please contact Mayuri and have him start the final preparations."

"Getsuga Tenshō!" Ichigo shouted.

Ichigo fired a blast of spirit energy at the cannon. However, he quickly saw that not even Getsuga would damage this resilient piece of technology. There's got to be a core of some sorts on the inside, Ichigo thought. I've got no choice.

On that note, Ichigo flew into the room that housed the giant cannon.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya quickly found himself confronted by three different Adhuchas. "You fools," he said. "Are you really going to fight like this? If that cannon fires on us again you'll die as well! Are you really going to let your king sacrifice you?"

One of the Adhuchas glared at Tōshirō. "Foolish Soul Reaper," said the Adhuchas. "We are fully aware of the risks that are involved and we are prepared to sacrifice our lives for the cause!"

Tōshirō's eyes widened. "To die in such a way," the Adhuchas continued. "It is a glorious honor the king himself bestowed upon us. We are honored to die this way for his cause, especially when said way will take you all with us!"

This is bad, Tōshirō thought. We're fighting soldiers with nothing to lose. There's literally not a more dangerous enemy. Soldiers with nothing to lose...they'll try anything to take their enemy down with them. That makes them unpredictable, and prone to more dangerous attacks regardless of the consequences.

An apelike Adhuchas leapt at Tōshirō. Tōshirō blocked the strike, but then took notice of the Adhuchas that had spoken to him. He was charging a cero! The cero shot towards the two of them. Tōshirō managed to Flash Step out of the way, but the Ape Adhuchas was not so lucky. He immediately disintegrated from the cero colliding with his large body. He sacrificed his own comrade just to try to kill me with one shot! Tōshirō thought in surprise. We have to end this quickly, otherwise we're all gonna kill each other!

Rangiku Matsumoto and Momo Hinamori cut down two soldiers and soon found themselves face to face with a wiry Arrancar with glasses. "Very graceful maneuvers, ladies." He said, pushing his glasses up. "You're both very graceful, just like dancers."

"Normally I love compliments from men," said Rangiku. "But Captain Hitsugaya would be mad if I accepted your compliment."

He chuckled. "I am Vasco Xuan, Fracción of General Cortez Orgulloso, it's a pleasure to meet you both."

"A general is here?" Momo inquired in surprise.

Vasco chuckled again. "Oh yes," he said. "We're both here."

"What the hell, why would that king of yours sacrifice one of his top members?" Rangiku asked in shock.

"Who said we would be among the sacrifices?" Vasco inquired.

"Huh?"

"If you intend to run before that cannon fires, let me tell you right now that that tactic is beyond disgraceful." Momo said angrily.

"Oh believe me, I agree," said Vasco. "General Orgulloso would get angry with me if I resorted to such a cowardly tactic. I have every intention of remaining here, believe me."

"Then...how do you intend to survive the cannon?" Rangiku asked.

"One thing you have to understand about myself and General Orgulloso, is that amongst the Los Retazos, we have the strongest defenses. We've never received a single injury in battle."

Momo and Rangiku's eyes widened. "Here, I'll show you." Said Vasco.

"Get ready Momo."

"Right!"

"Swim, Aguamala!" Vasco shouted.

Vasco's body started to change. His entire body soon became liquid-like. "What kind of Resurreción is that?" Momo asked.

Liquid tentacles sprouted out of Vasco's body. "Let me tell you something right now," said Vasco. "You won't land a single blow on me that'll injure me. Let me show you, strike me now!"

Rangiku and Momo looked at each other. "What should we do?" Rangiku asked.

"We strike him down of course," said Momo. "Snap, Tobiume."

Momo's sword changed into Tobiume's Shikai. "I guess you're right," said Rangiku. "Growl, Haineko."

Vasco grinned as Momo launched a fireball at him. Meanwhile, Rangiku sent Haineko's ash towards him as well. One attack, two attacks, three attacks, it won't matter. You can't kill me. He thought confidently.

The attacks hit Vasco, destroying his upper-body. "That's it?" Rangiku asked incredulously. "How anti-climactic could this possibly get."

"Oh I can assure you, we're far from the climax."

Rangiku and Momo's eyes widened when they heard Vasco's voice. "No way..." Momo couldn't believe it.

"It can't be, we blew half of him apart!" Rangiku said in shock.

Vasco's body started to reconstruct. "Let me ask you something, why would I lie about the fact that you can't kill me?" He asked mockingly as his head started to reconstruct.

His head reformed. "How stupid, did you really think that I'd lie about that and then let you hit me. You two are dumber than you look."

"That...can't be." Momo was still in shock.

"One of my special abilities, is that I can reform my body from any attack. My body is mostly made out of water and combined with my spirit energy. I can combine the two to form an invincible body." Vasco explained.

"So," he continued. "Do you two still think this'll be easy?"

Akio looked at Rangiku and Momo. "Those two might be in trouble." Akio muttered.

"Worry about your own troubles, Captain." Said Cortez Orgulloso, standing in front of him.

"I rarely have time to worry about my own troubles." Akio replied, getting into a fighting stance.

"I always intended to confront you personally." Said Cortez. "After all, it makes sense for the two leaders to meet one another in mortal combat, don't you agree."

"So, a general, huh?" Akio inquired.

Cortez nodded. "I am General Cortez Orgulloso, it is a pleasure to meet you on the battlefield, Captain Yamamoto."

"Likewise." Said Akio.

Cortez drew his rapier-Zanpakutō. "So, you're king is sacrificing you, huh? He seems to treat this like a chess match." Akio noted.

Cortez shook his head. "No, I have the power to survive Sentencía once it is ready to fire again. His Majesty does not wish to sacrifice one of his best men."

"You think you can survive that cannon?" Akio asked.

"My defense is the greatest amongst the Los Retazos. Granted, I can't regenerate like Vasco, but my defense does not have any weaknesses, unlike his." Explained Cortez.

"Then I guess I'll just have to beat the crap out of you before you can bring it out." Said Akio.

Cortez took a deep breath. "I suppose you'll have to, but that won't happen. Until I do, however, lets make this a fair fight." Said Cortez.

Akio nodded. "Sounds good to me, your move."

Cortez charged Akio, swinging his rapier. Akio quickly blocked the strike with his own blade.

Ichigo screamed out a battle cry as he cut down the last of the technicians working Sentencía. "All right," he said to himself. "Now lets find the core."

Ichigo's eyes darted around. "There it is," he said, looking at a giant tank that held what looked like Reishi. "If I destroy that thing, the cannon won't fire."

"I can't let you do that."

Ichigo's eyes widened upon hearing the familiar voice. "I can't let you destroy that cannon. Benito would throw a freaking tantrum if I let you, and I really don't want that. So I'm going to have to stop you."

Ichigo turned to the entrance to the room. "I've waited a long time for this, Ichigo," Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez gave Ichigo a feral grin. "It's time to finish this, once and for all."

A.N: Things are shaping up to be some good battles. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. ND2014, signing off.