Fight for the Future
The temperature had dropped immediately, the floor the wall and everything around them was now covered in a thin layer of ice. Ywach looked forward to see Toshiro rising to his feet before him, his hands covered in claws of ice with two great wings at his back. It still didn't matter.
Shunsui's bankai was enough to defeat him, Ichibei's bankai wasn't enough and Toshiro Hitsuguya's wouldn't be enough either. He raised his hand and swung aiming right for Toshiro's face.
But the second his arm touched it's target it was suddenly covered in a thick layer of ice. But it didn't stop at his arm and began spreading down his chest to his legs and up his neck.
Ywach jumped back putting some distance between them while he slammed his free hand against the Ice and cracked it, freeing himself.
"Your power may allow you change everything to your will." Toshiro told. Ywach looked up to face him. " But my Bankai allows me to not only freeze whatever it cuts but any abilities it possess, neutralizing them." He took another step forward gripping Hyorinmaru tighter." So tell me?" His pace increased and he began to break into a run." Can you see the Futrue NOW?!"
And that was the scariest part for the King Quincy. He couldn't.
Toshiro jumped up and came slashing down with Hyorinmaru. Ywach raised his hand, covering himself in the Blut Vene Anhaben again. But it broke before and it would break now. With one swing Toshiro came swinging down. And at the glass-like crash the shield was broken and Ywach felt a sharp pain run down from his right shoulder to his chest.
He put his hand over the wound and jumped back still needing the distance, but he wouldn't get far.
Toshiro raised Hyorinmaru to the sky and on his command came blizzard of snow, sleet, hail and ice. A storm so fierce that one couldn't even see the hand in front of their face, and the temperatures were fast falling with it.
Gerard swung down his sword to clash with Kenpachi's. But despite the size differences their strength was matched, Kenpachi fell back to the ground while Gerard prepared for another swing.
But then Sajin stepped forward and swung his own sword, slashing it across Gerard's leg.
"Maggot!" he roared turning his attention to the Captain. He raised his foot and prepared to stomp it down. Sajin jumped aside and avoided him, although Gerard's stomp did manage to shake the entire Royal Palace.
Now Sajin and Kenpachi stood side by side with Gerard looming over them. They simply nodded to the other and then together jumped up, ready to attack.
But one moment Gerard was there and then he wasn't, all they saw was white. The next thing they felt was a hard slap as Gerard had apparently swung down and hit them. But when they went crashing down they had a surprisingly soft landing.
"What is this?!" asked Kenpachi picking himself up. Whatever it was it was cold and went as high as his thighs. Sajin raised his hand to cover his eyes, hoping to see.
"Snow." He answered. "It's snow!"
Nobody could see anything, the snow was falling that fast and that thick. Matsuri raised her sword and with one swing managed to blow some of the snow away, clearing up the battlefield some. But it was still covered in ice.
She found herself surprising close to Candice and before the Quincy had the chance to attack her Matsuri kicked out her leg and knocked her back.
Ywach's cloak was blowing wildling behind him while his dozens of eyes looked into the abyss of cold.
"With this kind of cold, you're likely to freeze all of us for eternity!" Toshiro's hand suddenly appeared from the storm and wrapped itself around Ywach's collar with a good tight grip.
"Good." He growled as his face appeared next. Even at the cost of death to himself he would be glad for it if it would stop his enemy.
With his other hand he raised up Hyorinmaru and stabbed Ywach. He had meant to aim for his chest but because he moved he only managed to hit him in his left shoulder.
Ywach brought up his right fist and hit Toshiro in the face. Then he stepped forward to punch him again with the left.
Even if Toshiro could cancel his ability to see and change the future it didn't diminish Ywach's other abilities. Now that he was the Soul King his strength, speed and other natural abilities were all enhanced. And those Toshiro couldn't change.
Toshiro swung up his elbow but Ywach managed to block it with his own. But Toshiro continued to drive into him, pushing him back even more. Ywach opened his arms and the shadows around him shot up at Toshiro but with one swing of his sword they were reduced to ice.
There was still some distance between them so Toshiro swung his sword again, this time firing several shards of ice at Ywach.
The Quincy King ducked back, covering himself in shadow. But it wasn't enough as one of the shards found it's mark burning itself into his right shoulder. And unlike before it wasn't destroyed upon impact and his wounds were not healing.
Turning his head up he saw Toshiro coming at him. Ywach jumped back, now hoping to put some distance between him and Toshiro. With his left hand he reached back and opened a portal to Wandenreich the home of the Quincy. And as he fell further into it he watched as it closed with Toshiro on the other side. This would allow him some time to think his situation over.
Or perhaps not.
Before him he heard a slashing sound and shortly after Toshiro came bursting through, having made an opening of his own. And with both hands on his sword he swung down. Ywach desperate to protect himself put up his own hands and caught the blade.
The two struggled there as they continued to fall. Until at last Toshiro used his strength and finished his swing, knocking Ywach out of the sky and onto the ground below, shaking the foundation of the very place and destroying the nearby buildings.
And by the time Ywach had slammed onto the ground Toshiro was already on him again, bearing down with his sword and managing to stab Ywach right in the stomach. Pinning him to the ground with not only his sword but with a layer of ice that covered all his body except his head.
Despite the pain Ywach swung up his arm, breaking through the ice and punched Toshiro in the face. The shadows followed and dived forward, hitting Toshiro in the chest and knocking him off Ywach and onto his own back.
Ywach quickly got to his feet, pulling Hyorinmaru from his belly before his carding it to the ground. He quickly turned to his enemy who was now being covered by the shadows. But just by touching Toshiro they froze and turned to ice, allowing him to get back to his feet.
But with the distance between them Ywach raised both of them and at the same time two giant hands appeared on both sides of Toshiro. And when Ywach clapped his hands together he slammed Toshiro between the two giant ones.
He watched as despite the power between them Toshiro put up his own arms and managed to hold them at bay. Then like the shadows they turned to ice from his touch and with some extra strength on his part pushed the giant hands aside, breaking them into pieces . Then stepped forward and pointed his hand forward. Ywach raised his hand to counterattack.
"Hado #88!" Toshiro commanded. And from his hand shot a huge ball of electricity. At the same time Ywach fired reishi arrows from his hand. Both of them choosing to take the attack, if only to steady their own and hit the other.
Ywach was blasted right in the chest, knocking off his feet and onto his back. Toshiro at the same time took several arrows, mostly in his chest and one even pierced his heart. But it did little to faze him or subside his rage. One finally hit his shoulder, turning him around and onto one knee.
But Toshiro did not linger long and quickly turned to stand back up. But when he turned his head he found it immediately connected with Ywach's boot. He kicked Toshiro in the face, knocking him onto his back.
Standing over him Ywach raised his hand to form a reish sword. But as he swung down Toshiro sat up and caught the sword with one hand while punching Ywach in the stomach with the other. Ywach took the hit if only to counter by burying his reishi sword deep into Toshiro's left shoulder. And he kept pushing it deeper and deeper, passed the bone and now into Toshiro's chest. Toshiro groaned as Ywach kept pushing and forcing him down.
Thinking quickly Toshiro reached up with his ice claw and grabbed at Ywach's face. Then he raked it across, ripping some of the eyes completely off and scratching his actual face beneath it. Then Toshiro moved forward to punch Ywach in the chin, knocking him off his feet.
But Ywach managed to catch himself and when he looked up he saw Toshiro retrieve Hyorinmaru, ready to continue the fight.
"You must hate me very much boy." He said. Toshiro said nothing." Hate me for everything that I've done to you. And the brutality in which I've done it. It shakes you to your core, you can hardly stomach even the sight of me. The question you have most likely is where could a man learn such a thing? What would force a man to such horrific means, I'll tell you. It was Yamamoto." Toshiro stopped in his tracks." He did what he had to do to win and I admired him for that." He turned all his eyes upon Toshiro. "You might have been Yamamoto's student but I am his true successor."
"We'll see about that." Toshiro responded. Yet somehow Ywach did not feel threatened, in fact he smiled.
"I wonder." He hissed." What's pushed you to such actions?" His face was now becoming covered again and the eyes reappeared." Let me see." Toshiro might have been able to stop Ywach from seeing into the future but not the past. "Ah." He finally let out." I see now." The multiple eyes on his face began to blink." That wasn't the first time you killed one of your own, was it?" Toshiro's eyes narrowed at him.
"That's right." Toshiro said straightening out and putting Hyorinmaru to his side. He hadn't noticed it but Ywach had snapped his fingers under his coat. That suddenly made a visual of the two of them in the sky above their subordinates.
"That's right. "Toshiro answered, earning the attention of everyone down below. "I killed Yamamoto, and I killed Unohanna. I've killed Hollows, Arrancars and other Soul Reapers." It seemed to please Ywach that spite and the rage that Toshiro spoke with." And I'm going to kill you too Ywach." That softened the King Quincy's smile.
But the secret was out, there for all to hear.
"No." Rangiku said." It can't be!"
"Lies!" Matsuri let out." This is some kind of trick!" But there was little choice in denying it. They'd all heard it from the horses' mouth with their own ears.
With one great kick Gerard sent Sajin flying back and off the floating Palace.
"CAPTAIN!" Iba yelled reaching out. But there was nothing he could do as his Captain had already fallen over the side. And thus the battle was one again.
Soifon took Bazz-B to the ground, wrapping both her arms and legs around him to pull him in tight their faces right next to each other. So Soifon turned and sunk her teeth right into the side of Bazz-B's face. Then with one clean jerk of her head she managed to tear the skin from his face left cheek and up to his forehead.
Cang-Du swung up his iron arm and stabbed it into Byakuya's stomach, knocking him back. But before he could follow up his attack Byakuya dropped his sword.
"Bankai. "He announced." Senbonzakura kageyoshi." Cang Du watched as the blade disappeared only for a row of giant ones to appear beside Byakuya. Then with a wave of his hand Byakuya sent a flurry of millions of pedals upon the Quincy.
Suddenly there was a rumbling below them and something passed over them. Looking up everyone saw the giant Tenken appear from the ground below and now stood across from Gerard.
The Quincy reared back his sword and swung but Sajin was ready. The giant tenken followed his movements and the two giant blades clashed in the sky above.
Toshiro had learned from Genryusai Yamamoto original Commander of the Gotei 13. From original Kenpachi Yachiru Unohana. From Genrei Kuchiki, Ichibe Hyosube, Tenjiro Kirinji, and Oetsu Nimaiya. All the original members of the Gotei 13, all those who were there a thousand years ago. Their legacy and the legacy of the Gotei 13 was passed down to him upon command. The blood of a thousand years was on his hands.
"And now." Toshiro continued with a casual shrug of his shoulders, taking one hand off his sword." I'm going to finish what we started one thousand years AGO!" He reached back and ripped his white coat off his body, swinging it forward and tossing it at Ywach. And with the white cloak blocking Ywach's sight Toshiro took his sword in both hands and swung down, slashing it in two and hopefully Ywach with it.
But the King Quincy had avoided him and reappeared behind him. Toshiro turned but Ywach had already swung his fist and punch Toshiro across the face, then a second time. But the third would be different. He put his spirit energy into it and with this punch created a hole right through Toshiro's chest. Then he put both arms around Toshiro and grabbed him, pushing him through another portal and back into the Royal Palace.
The two collided against several buildings together before Ywach finally tossed Toshiro onto the ground, right back to where they started at the top of the Royal Palace.
Toshiro crashed onto the ground once more. He stabbed Hyorinmaru down to steady himself and tried to raised himself back to his feet. But once more a dark shadow appeared over him.
"You pathetic misfit." Ywach stated. " I don't know what Yamamoto ever saw in you." Before Toshiro had any time to jump up to attack Ywach pointed at him, shooting down a volley of unlimited reishi arrows onto him.
When the smoke had cleared the only thing that remained was Ice.
Ywach allowed himself a sigh of relief and a smile for the battle well fought and the battle won. He doesn't know why he ever doubted himself, this had gone down as he originally had seen. Toshiro in a pile of nothing while he stood over him.
"I've won!" he cheered. His shadow growing along the wall. Yamamoto, Ichibei, Shunsui, Toshiro none of them could match him. And soon all the Soul Reapers would be as dead as them.
Suddenly a blade appeared right through Ywach's chest. He turned his head around to see Hyorinmaru in his back and Toshiro standing there. Without a moment to loose Toshiro lifted Ywach into the air, turned and slammed him onto the ground.
"There's no escape this time Quincy!" He growled. Ywach picked his head up in time only to be kicked back to the ground by Toshiro. He rolled back a few feet on the ground. But when he pushed himself to his feet Toshiro stomped forward and slashed him across the chest, staggering him even more. The blood from his body splashed out from the sword and onto the nearby walls. With another step forward Toshiro swung again, this time the opposite way getting the same result.
And that sent Ywach stumbling back even more. Toshiro watched as he staggered back reaching out with his right arm for support that wasn't there. It seemed the only thing keeping up upright now was the wall itself.
Ywach tried to straightened out as much he could, that being the most important task right now. The many eyes and black shadows that covered him began to wash off him as if he'd been melted. Now he stood there in his original form.
His chest had been opened by several slashes as well a stab right through from the back, his belly opened. With panted breaths Ywach tried to keep himself together but could hardly stand.
His legs weak he gave in and collapsed to his knees. His left arm was clutched to his body while he tried to push himself up with his right. But when he brought his head up he saw his reflection in a piece of cold steel before him. He followed the blade up until it came to Toshiro Hitsuguya himself.
With a final defeated breath Ywach turned and bowed down his head. At the same time Toshiro took Hyorinmaru in both hands and raised it above his head.
With one swing of his sword and a flash of light it was done. The powers of the Soul King had left him and Ywach had completely vanished, leaving only his cloths behind.
Toshiro let in a deep breath as he put his sword back in it's sheath and prepared to leave. But then something distracted him. He heard a sound, a faint little cry. He turned left to find it's source but saw nothing. And when he looked right he saw the same. It was only when he looked down that he noticed something.
There was something moving beneath the Ywach's cloths. Curiously but carefully Toshiro knelt down and towards it. And with one hand removed the jacket to find something strange.
There bundled up in the cloths of Ywach was a little pink baby, crying out. Toshiro looked down at it strangely. Where could this baby had come from, how did it get here? It didn't take him long to figure it out.
The power of the Almighty gave Ywach more than just the power to see and change the future. It made him virtually unkillable, even at defeat his body would reincarnate himself and as he grew would slowly regain his powers.
It was this very situation that happened a thousand years ago with the first Head-Captain. Toshiro had seen the limits of Yamamoto's mercy and after a thousand years what it had uncovered.
With one hand he reached down and took the baby in his right arm.
But the fighting still raged down below.
Rangiku was punched back onto the ground by Meninas. She quickly rolled to her feet, avoiding another attack as the Quincy came crashing down.
Rangiku swung up Haineko and the ash swung up and tore a chunk out of Meninas' left ribcage. She avoided the pain though, to turn down and kick Rangiku in the face knocking her onto her back.
It seemed as if it all might have been over until Meninas suddenly stopped, as if her attack had been stalled. Rangiku watched carefully as the Quincy went from a charging position to bent over the ground holding her stomach. Then suddenly Meninas threw her head back and let out a scream and that's when Rangiku saw it. Her eyes were completely white and a light was shining from her mouth.
But it wasn't just here all the Quincy had been effected. Mask de Masculine, Gerard, Candice, Gremmy, every single one was stumbling around letting out a vicious cry. The Soul Reapers could only stand by and watch as one by one began to disappear piece by piece. Limbs went first and then bit by bit the body followed until they disappeared in a blinding light.
Whatever happened none of them could tell, all they knew was that the Quincy were gone. And at the same time Rangiku looked up to see Toshiro walking down the steps.
His Captain's coat was gone and much of his black robes were stained in blood and ribbed apart. The parts of his skin she could see was covered in dried blood. His face shielded behind sweat, blood, bruises with a strange hint of red in his deep blue eyes. But despite the wounds he still managed to walk tall and proud.
She dropped Haineko to run over to him. His paced slowed as she moved towards him until he finally stopped before her, just in time for her to do the same.
She gazed up at him to see the hardened but tired face he had one covered by the effects of the fight. She brought up her sleeve and ran it across his face, moving aside what covered it so that she could see his face. And with one motion his face was cleaned and the blue returned to his eyes.
And he stood there and looked down at her while she up at him. She turned her hand back to cup his chin in her hand. To that he let out a deep sigh.
It didn't matter what he said before, it didn't matter if it was true at least not right now. For now this was all that mattered. Everyone was alive and they were together now, everything was going to be fine.
One by one the other Captains and Lieutenants began walking towards them. Toshiro turned his head slowly to see all those who had survived. Sajin, Soifon, Kenpachi, Byakuya, Matsuri, Yushiro, everyone who he'd brought here would be able to walk out again. He was glad for that, there would be much to rebuild now that this was over.
There they stood the last of the Gotei 13. A once mighty order now broken down into only a handful. But with their ancient enemy gone, now was the time to begin anew. They had endured and struggled through conflict and not it was time to find purpose once again.