TTGL: Brothers to the End.
Chapter 5: Lose yourself to the power.
Kamina clicked his tongue and listened as the sound echoed through the darkness. He picked his way easily through the unlit tunnels, his night sight brilliant due to his pit upbringing and further advanced by his hollow abilities. By listening to the clicks he could tell if there were any objects around corners, picking out any slight abnormalities in the echoes with his hyper sensitive hearing.
"Anything?" asked Captain Elric who walked confidently just behind Kamina. She ran a gloved hand across the left side wall, feeling for any breaks in the roughly hewn rock.
"Nothing." grunted Kamina. "But that just means that there is something. Only dangerous places feel this undangerous."
"Yeah. I can feel it too. A tenseness in the air. An odd feeling in the stone." Elie observed quietly.
A small, almost inaudible clicking sound broke the suspicious silence. As one, the group faced forward and gulped. A slow rumbling began in the distance and grew rapidly louder until the earth shook and the rumbling filled the world. Torches suddenly blazed into existence, lighting the path of a gigantic boulder as it rolled through the tunnel.
"Son of a-"
"Run!" screamed Elie to the general agreement of the others.
While the others turned to flee, Kamina snorted and dug in his feet. "Oh come on! A boulder? How unoriginal could this guy be. This is the oldest cliché in the book." he snapped.
The rock hurtled toward him, taking up the entire tunnel. Kamina held out his right arm and the boulder smashed into his palm. It continued to role on the spot for several seconds then ground to a halt. Kamina clenched his fist and the rock shattered.
"Ha! It will take more than an oversized pebble to stop the mighty Kamina!"
As if on cue, a forest of metal spikes thrust out of the wall. The shinigami avoided them by striking awkward poses, jutting their limbs through the tangle of life threatening metal.
"God damn it, Kamina! You just had to taunt the booby traps!" hissed Elie through pursed lips.
There was another ominous click followed by an immediate increase in temperature. A blazing light flared up behind them, filling the tunnel with a wall of flame.
Captain Elric cursed and clapped her hands before touching the metal spikes around her that swiftly withdrew themselves back into the wall. Now free from the trap, the shinigami ran for their lives as a storm of flame closed in on them. In their haste, dozens of traps were triggered causing arrows to shoot at them, objects fall on them and all manner of nets, pits and blades sought to end them.
Elie slammed her fist into the ground, causing a ripple of energy to run along its surface. The walls and ceiling cracked and crumbled, sealing the passage behind them. Without the fireball on their heels, the group was able to regroup and rest.
"This guy is crazy." fumed one of the shinigami through panting breaths. "The bastard has just ensured that he will suffer."
"We have to get to him first." said Elie firmly. She analysed their surroundings carefully. "It can't be much further. We'd have noticed if he was building a labyrinth."
Kamina held up a hand for silence. "There are people ahead; a group of them about two hundred yards away."
Elie nodded. "Right, we don't know what to expect so we go slowly and don't make a move until we know exactly-"
"Forget that." scoffed Kamina as he strode forward. "Real men fight face to face and announce their presence loud and proud!" He broke into a run, dodging a barrage of lasers that shot out around him. His speed increased until it was super human and didn't waste time by slowing down when he arrived at a wall.
Kamina smashed straight through the rock and broke into a new chamber that was dimly lit with glowing tubes. He glanced around but the room was empty of people. Empty of everything.
"What the hell?" questioned Kamina. He could have sworn that there had been people in here. A small ticking sound answered him. "Ah crap."
The room exploded in a fiery blaze of destruction. Kamina had just enough time to brace himself before he wax hit. His hierro protected him from most of the damage. Being half hollow definitely had its advantages.
He wasn't safe though. Chains fired at him, wrapping tightly around his limbs and locking him in place. The ground below him rose up at high speed, smashing him into the roof before lowering slightly so that Kamina was on a platform high above the floor. A cage of hardened metal formed around him that glowed with energy.
"Damn it." he swore as he strained against the chains. Even with his super strength, they barely budged.
Captain Elric and the other members of Squad Thirteen rushed in through the smoke and debris, their weapons drawn.
"Stay back!" roared Kamina, but it was too late. Thick metal walls rose out from the ground around the outskirts of the room, trapping the occupants inside. The room fell deathly silent as everyone one waited with baited breath for any further signs of trouble. They didn't have to wait long.
A large screen lowered from the roof and came to life with a flash of light. The image of a scrawny man with messy white hair appeared, the face evidently belonging to Yjorvi. He smiled down at them with a crazed smirk.
"Silly shinigami." he taunted in a high pitch voice that creaked with age. "Like flies you have wondered straight into my web."
"No pathetic little trap can stop us!" shouted Elie defiantly. "Me especially." she added, rubbing her gloved hands together.
Yjorvi cackled at her words. "On the contrary, Captain Elric. You see, I knew this day would eventually come so I made preparations. I have studied every single high level shinigami and created an appropriate trap for each. Using cameras up in the village, I knew who was coming so had time to set up the perfect ones for you."
Elie clapped her hands and placed them on the ground but was instantly fired backwards as powerful bolts of electric shot up her arms. Yjorvi's laugh no filled the room. Above even that was the sound of Kamina's fruitless attempts at escape as he smashed and pulled at his restraints.
"Your imitation alchemy won't work here, girl." sneered the scientist. "I know that you zanpakuto is in a constant released state forming metal plates beneath your gloves. Just like your ancestral alchemy, those plates manipulate the partials in whatever they touch. Luckily for me though, metal conducts electricity beautifully."
"Bastard!" Elie growled, clutching her arms. "Even if I have to use my bankai, we will get out of here."
"Wrong again. You didn't think I'd spend all that time and effort on trapping you without installing a system to kill you?"
The wall opened up to reveal a vast doorway into what appeared to be a large storage hanger. Inside was the just visible sight of hundreds of indistinct figures who stood motionless in the gloom.
In one vast movement, the neat lines started forward in perfect symmetry. Exiting the darkness and emerging into the light. Row after row of blank human bodies without features or variation filed into the room. Each held a sword and a plain grey overall. None had any hair or pupils.
"What are they?" asked one shinigami hoarsely.
"They are a new form of gigai that I have been working on." answered the scientists proudly. "Soulless creatures designed as the perfect mass produced soldiers. I believe them to be more than a match for even a captain under these conditions. I call them the Battlegai."
Like sharks smelling blood, the battlegai rushed forward to assault the shinigami. Their speed, reflexes and strength were nothing spectacular as they clashed blades with the Thirteenth Division.
Elie's zanpakuto changed its shape, revealing itself from her gloves as deadly blades that seemed to emerge from her wrists. Using these she battered aside one of the battlegais' swords and stabbed it in the gut. She gasped as her hand passed into the soldier's stomach as though it was made of clay. Before she could yank it back out, the battlegai's body became solid like concrete, locking her trapped arm in place.
Yjorni's laughter echoed around the room. "You see? Your situation is hopeless! While my battlegai may not be powerful, their abilities give them the edge in a close combat situation. You have the choice of killing them and becoming pinned or defend and be worn down by their attacks."
Several shinigami had been caught out by this ploy and had lost the use of their weapons. Skilled in hand-to-hand combat as they were, it was still an uphill fight.
"Only use kido!" ordered Elie levelly as she blasted away at a cluster of the battlegai with a lightning bolt. Her men complied, raining magical destruction down upon the emotionless foes.
At first it seemed to be working but it quickly became apparent that the attacks passed through them, leaving holes in their bodies but causing no damage. The shinigami were becoming visibly panicked, their attacks doing nothing to slow down the approaching death.
Elie was forced onto the defensive as the battlegai closed in on the small group. They were slowly becoming pinned despite their best efforts. More and more kept coming, driving the helpless shinigami back against the wall.
"Bankai!" shouted Elie. Her zankakuto glowed but nothing else happened. The half of her blade still trapped within the battlegai did not react. She tried again but got the same results. She was alone now, trapped and surrounded.
From behind she was bludgeoned in the head, knocking her off balance. As she tried to regain her senses a battlegai stabbed his blade into her gut. On instinct she stabbed him back, locking it in place as it turned to stone.
"Checkmate." laughed Yjorvi smugly. "You won't be taking my life today. Quite the contrary. Goodbye, shinigami."
Hundreds of holes opened upon the walls. A turret emerged from each and began firing. The shinigami, unable to defend themselves anymore were cut down in a hail of bullets. The guns blared for several seconds then fell silent.
"Who uses guns on trapped men!" roared Kamina at the top of his lungs. His eyes burned with a fire that threatened to consume all that looked into them.
"Ah, Kamina." chuckled the scientist. "Trying to break out is pointless. That cage was designed to contain Kenpachi Zaraki. You stand no chance of escape. Don't you worry though, your captain isn't dead. Resilient little bitch, isn't she? I think, as you fry to death, I'll go down to her while she is at my mercy."
Kamina was about to shout out again when blistering electricity jumped from the cage and into his body. He screamed out as a deadly amount of volts tore through his system. Smoke rose from his skin and his limbs spasmed uncontrollably.
"I…wont…lose!" he hissed but he could feel his consciousness rapidly fading. He was pretty sure that his blood was beginning to boil.
Why don't you let lose.
"Wh-"
Forget control. Forget constraint and opinion.
"Who are…you."
There was a flash and Kamina found himself in his inner world. It had been a while since his last visit and things had changed dramatically. The pleasant landscape, the hollow zoo and the scrap yard were gone. Hollows ran amok and fires blazed everywhere turning the world red.
Kamina was stood face to face with a mirror image of himself but in monochrome. Yellow eyes stared into his soul, their very essence madness itself, pits into insanity. Despite their similarities, the white Kamina's body was a latticework of scars.
Who am I? You mean you don't know me. I am your inner hollow. You controlled your hollowfication so well and had your other little hollow friend managing things so we've never had the chance to meet. I must say, I'm disappointed.
"Disappointed? Who the hell do y-"
A weak fool who is about to be fried like a little insect. You will die and it won't even be in a fight. Trapped in a cage by a weedy little man. Very heroic.
"What would you know! Your just a cocky figment of my imagination. Who's powerless now!"
Your fake confidence means nothing to me, boy. Your power is tied down. So much failed potential. If you hope to survive, then you better let go. Lose yourself to the power.
"I'd rather die than be a mindless beast!"
You may be reserved to die, but is your captain? She is down there, powerless and alone with a psychopath. Can you leave her to her fate after the kindness she has given you? After all your talk of honour and never giving up?
Kamina grit his teeth. "I'll get out without your help. Kick logic to the curb and do the impossible! That is how I roll!"
With force of will he forced himself back into the agonising pain of reality. Through spotted vision he saw that Yjorvi was down below now approaching Elie's slumped form. Finding his voice Kamina roared and thrashed with all of his might. He tried harder than ever before but the effort was futile.
Yjorvi was beside Elie now. He yanked her head up to face him and she spat blood at him. Her body was a mess but she retained her defiance.
Urgently now Kamina strained the very fabric of his soul for extra power. He was on the edge of death but fought harder than ever.
Will you let me help now?
"Go…to…hell…argh!"
Elie screamed as the scientist hit her.
Now?
Yjorvi reached down, his intentions clear. Kamina snapped. "You bastard!" anger took over. Seeing a breech in concentration, the inner hollow ripped through Kamina's mental defences and took control by force.
A burst of power like a nuclear explosion shook the entire base. The very air turned to fire as Kamina screamed a monstrous scream. His hair grew, becoming wild like a lion's mane. His cape wrapped around his body creating a covering of flaming robes. His hollow mask formed but was different to usual. The shades became larger, more pointed and horn like while twisting spiral patterns of blood flowed across its bleached white surface.
Clawed hands grabbed at the bars, ripping them out with the ease of pulling up grass. The power emitted from Kamina's body was so great that the power limiter on his wrist short circuited and exploded in a shower of sparks.
"This isn't possible!" screeched Yjorvi as he quickly scampered away from the captain. "Battlegai, attack!"
Another room opened up and hundreds more battlegai charged at the floating form of Kamina. Kamina opened his mouth and fired a pure white cero that calved a mile long tunnel through the ground, reducing the battlegai to mist.
"Nonononono! Such power is impossible!" Yjorvi shrieked. "I'm not done yet though! I have recovered forbidden technology that will be more than a match. The imitation captains from centuries ago will crush you. Reigai, destroy him!"
This time the ground opened and a platform rose up. On it was a group that mirrored the make-up of the Gotai Thirteen back in Ichigo's time as a substitute shinigami. Captain's and lieutenant that bristled with power, an army in its own rights.
The reigai shot into the air, each one instantly powering up to bankai. Kamina howled then dived down to meet them without even drawing his sword. He smashed his fist into Renji's face, reducing the skull to mush. Attacks bounced off of his skin harmlessly even though their power would level a city.
Kamina grabbed the dog captain's sword and ripped the arm out of its socket before catching one of Soifon's missiles in his teeth. The ensuing explosion didn't even discolour his mask. A cero that smashed straight through the roof to reveal sunlight vaporised several of the lieutenants.
Hitsugaya tried to freeze him in place but the flames of Kamina's robes melted it instantly. A pink steak zipped past from Byakuya's Senbonzakura. Rather than dodge or block though, Kamina inhaled, drawing all of the lightweight metal petals into his mouth. Byakuya's usual calm vanished as, now defenceless, Kamina picked him up and swung him with such force at Hitsugaya that they both were left shattered.
A hail of super powered cero decimated the room completely, killing everything that they touched. As the dust cleared, only Kenpachi was left alive. The Eleventh Division captain rushed forward cackling with the thrill of the fight. He thrust his blade full forced right between Kamina's eyes. The zanpakuto turned to dust. Kenpachi's wolfish eyes opened wide in shock. Kamina ripped out the capsule from the reigai's chest.
Yjorvi was cowering in a corner. Kamina had destroyed the only exits and so now the scientist was trapped with his own lair. Kamina landed silently beside him.
"Get away from me!" he screamed in a high pitched voice. His entire body shook with blind terror. A wet patch formed around his crotch.
A voice that was like a warped version of Kamina's emanated from the hollow's mouth. The words each sounded like they carried a metal edge. "You think it is manly to abuse defenceless women? My opinion of men like you is that you don't deserve your balls!"
Kamina kicked the crying scientist in the groin with such force that his foot passed straight up the man's body, splitting it in half with a shower of gore.
With the battle ended and the adrenaline and anger fading, Kamina was able to wrestle control back from his inner hollow. He ripped of the mask and through his own eyes viewed the devastation. He cursed to himself.
Prioritising Elie, he moved to check on her. Miraculously she had avoided being hurt in Kamina's rampage. Bullet holes were clearly visible but she didn't look in immediate threat of dying. Sometime during the battle, she had lost consciousness.
"Lieutenant Kamina Jiha." said a voice above them. Kamina looked up to see the real Byakuya Kuchiki. Beside him stood Ichigo and Shunsui Kyoraku.
"Glad you guys are here." Kamina started as he broke the stone holding Elie. "The captain's badly hurt. We need to get her back now."
Byakuya ignored him. "In accordance with Article 16, we hereby place you under arrest."
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A/N: Dun-dun-duh… Well, there you have it, Kamina's first fight scene of the story…kinda.
A question to you readers, do you want me to delve into the side characters more, maybe add chapters dedicated to them or would you prefer me to stay to the point and focus on the main story instead as any side character chapters wouldn't progress the plot but merely offer other angles and background events. Either way, its your call.
For the winner of this weeks omake, I thought that it would only be fitting for Kamina to announce the result:
Kamina: "Hey hey hey all you crazy badasses out there. This weeks winner of the coveted omake is a man of real manliness and spirit. His journeys through the grand wastelands of Fanfiction have left him a veteran of all things manly. This badass is a true member of Team Dai-Gurren! I give you the one and only, Haru Takami! Bring the man some beer, The great Kamina demands it!"
Thank you all for reading. Please review or PM me. Any questions will be answered ASAP. Until next time
-FWF