I'm terribly sorry for the delay in updating the fanfiction. I got completely absorbed in writing my own story. But without keeping you waiting any longer, I present to you chapter XI, or the eleventh chapter.
Disclaimer: Bleach's ownership isn't in my hands, just so you know.
"Yeah" is talking.
'Yeah' is thinking / mental talk.
Italic is flashback / past memory.
[Chapter XI - A Defiant Stand]
Jushiro gracefully danced away from yet another icy projectile, his expression a mix of determination and concern as he confronted Rukia's duplicate. He couldn't help but narrow his eyes, his thoughts racing.
"To resort to this... He must be truly enraged," he mused, his mind momentarily distracted.
His reverie was shattered as another frigid projectile hurtled toward him. Reacting swiftly, Jushiro summoned the power of Sogyo no Kotowari to redirect the blast, only to find the duplicate dodging with unnerving ease.
"Why, Kurosaki-kun?" Jushiro's voice held a tinge of desperation, his plea reaching out for reason amid the chaos.
Rukia's duplicate came to a halt, tilting her head with a wild grin, one that sent shivers down Jushiro's spine.
"My, my, if you've lost faith in the Shinigami Daiko, who can blame you?" she taunted, her voice tinged with madness.
Jushiro blinked, his gaze unwavering.
"Then who are you?" he inquired, his voice calm, though the situation was anything but.
Rukia's smile widened, an eerie expression on her face. Suddenly, a thunderous explosion echoed from the 1st Division Headquarters. Jushiro's head snapped in its direction, his eyes widening with alarm. He watched as Genryusai emerged mid-air, landing safely away from the blast's epicenter. Chojiro, however, was not as fortunate, crashing into a building below.
As the smoke billowed out, two figures stepped forward, another Genryusai and Chojiro. Behind them, a third person emerged, a sight that sent shockwaves through Jushiro's senses, widening his eyes even further.
"Sosuke Aizen?" Jushiro exclaimed, his voice betraying both shock and concern.
"Ahh, that's right," came the sardonic reply.
With a sharp spin, Jushiro redirected his attention back to his adversary, his features etched in a mix of determination and disbelief. Beside him, his own duplicate stood, an eerie presence.
"It seems that the time for my revenge has come," Jushiro-Aizen stated, his lips curving into a dark, malevolent smile. "I do hope you are ready."
Jushiro's eyes narrowed, his resolve solidifying. He squared his shoulders and spoke with unwavering determination, "You may have my body, but a clone is nothing but a cheap imitation of the true power that lies within."
Jushiro-Sosuke tilted his head, a sinister grin still dancing on his lips.
"We'll just have to see about that," he retorted, lifting his zanpakuto in a menacing gesture, preparing for the battle that lay ahead.
"Taichou, wait a second!" Marechiyo yelped, rolling to the side to avoid another strike from his petite captain.
Sweat poured from Marechiyo's brow as he pushed his overweight body to its limit, desperately evading the lightning-fast onslaught from his captain.
"Hold on, please! We're in the middle of a war! You can punish me later!" he cried out as he scrambled away from another potentially lethal blow.
Marechiyo kept running until he collided with something substantial yet slightly yielding, sending him bouncing backward. He shook his head to clear his vision and found himself face to face with his duplicate.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" the other Marechiyo sneered, a sadistic grin twisting his features.
Marechiyo's eyes widened, and he scrambled to draw his zanpakuto, only to feel the icy touch of metal against his neck. Slowly, he turned his gaze to find Soifon with her zanpakuto poised at his throat. Marechiyo gulped audibly.
"S-So, you were the duplicate?" he stammered.
"Yare, yare, you were always slow at grasping the situation at hand, Omaeda-fukutaichou," remarked Marechiyo's duplicate, nonchalantly shrugging. "Ah well, the world is better off without the likes of you."
Marechiyo's eyes widened as he felt Soifon's duplicate preparing to strike, only to watch in shock as she was forcefully propelled into the nearby building. Marechiyo's duplicate swiftly retreated to a safe distance, his zanpakuto still at the ready, and his twisted smile intact.
"Ah, nice of you to join the party," Marechiyo's duplicate sneered.
Marechiyo stared at the figure before him, and it became evident that the intruder was none other than...
"Yoruichi Shihoin," Marechiyo's duplicate confirmed.
Yoruichi stood there, her face etched with a fierce glare that could send shivers down even the bravest warrior's spine.
"S-Shihoin-sama!" Marechiyo exclaimed, his voice trembling.
Ignoring Marechiyo, Yoruichi focused her attention on his duplicate, her eyes narrowing as if studying him carefully.
"... You're definitely not Ichigo," Yoruichi declared suddenly, leaving Marechiyo utterly baffled.
The other Marechiyo, however, seemed to understand exactly what she was getting at, and his sinister grin only widened.
"Aa, that's right," he replied.
Yoruichi shifted into a battle-ready stance, coiled like a spring, poised to strike at any moment.
"Who are you?" she growled, her voice dripping with animosity.
"Why don't you guess?"
A familiar voice echoed from behind them, causing Marechiyo and Yoruichi to spin around in surprise. To their astonishment, Yoruichi's and Soifon's duplicate stood there, their smiles mirroring the wicked grin of Marechiyo's duplicate. Yoruichi hissed softly under her breath.
"This is going to get quite annoying," she muttered, her eyes locked onto her menacing duplicate.
Then, Yoruichi turned her piercing gaze towards Marechiyo, making him yelp involuntarily.
"Where's Soifon?" she demanded with urgency, her voice laced with concern.
Marechiyo stammered a hasty reply, "She's still healing in the Fourth Division!"
Yoruichi rapidly assessed her options, her thoughts racing. She suddenly seized Marechiyo by his collar, her grip firm and unyielding.
"We won't win this battle with just the two of us. Let's go!" she growled, determination etched across her features.
Without waiting for a response, Yoruichi vanished into thin air, utilizing her Shunpo technique, and whisked Marechiyo away with her. Left behind, Marechiyo's duplicate couldn't help but chuckle darkly.
"You can't run from me forever, little kitty," he taunted, a sinister grin etching his face, before he and the other duplicates swiftly pursued their fleeing counterparts.
Genryusai's stern gaze remained fixed upon the scene of chaos below him, the flames of battle raging with an unquenchable fervor.
"Are you witnessing this, Yamamoto-sotaichou?" Sosuke inquired with a sinister grin. "This marks the culmination of the Gotei 13's existence."
Genryusai, though he loathed to admit it, recognized the grim reality of their predicament. Sosuke Aizen himself was a formidable adversary, and the duplicates under his control only intensified the direness of the situation. As if that weren't enough, the attackers bore the visages of high-ranking Gotei 13 officers, further confusing and disorienting their subordinates.
This was a battle they were bound to lose, and Genryusai was fully aware of it. Nevertheless, retreat was not an option. Raising his zanpakuto, Genryusai steeled his resolve, recalling Mayuri's words from their last meeting.
"If I can vanquish just one clone, then Aizen's reign will crumble."
Sosuke observed Genryusai's determined stance with an arched eyebrow, his wicked smile undiminished.
"Oh? It seems you've hatched a plan," he remarked.
Genryusai remained silent, responding with a surge of his overwhelming reiatsu that caused Soul Society's temperature to soar exponentially. Sosuke raised a curious eyebrow.
"Is that so?"
"Bankai!" Genryusai growled.
In an instant, a colossal wave of scorching heat descended upon Soul Society, compelling every soul to look upward, clones and allies alike. Sosuke's eyes widened as he witnessed the eruption of Genryusai's unparalleled power. As the blaze of reiatsu ebbed away, Sosuke beheld Genryusai clutching a scorched and battle-worn zanpakuto, its blade bearing the scars of relentless fire.
"Zanka no Tachi…" Genryusai's voice resonated with power.
Sosuke raised an eyebrow, studying the zanpakuto with intrigue.
"So, is this the full extent of the mighty Sotaichou's strength?" Sosuke taunted, "A blazing heat wave and a battered zanpakuto?"
Genryusai met his words with a stony silence.
"You'll rue the day you underestimated my power when I reduce you to ashes," he declared.
Sosuke's unwavering smile persisted.
"Really? And what can you do with that?" Sosuke motioned casually toward Genryusai's worn blade.
In a fraction of a second, Genryusai vanished and reappeared behind Chojiro-Sosuke. Chojiro-Sosuke's eyes widened as he sensed the formidable presence of the Captain-Commander. Genryusai's blade sliced downward, and Chojiro-Sosuke attempted to block the strike. However, Zanka no Tachi effortlessly cleaved through his defense, bisecting Chojiro-Sosuke. The duplicate's eyes widened before life fled his body, and his two halves collapsed to the ground below. Genryusai watched his fallen opponent.
"With this, it ends…" Genryusai proclaimed.
"Says who?" Sosuke's voice sneered.
Genryusai's eyes widened, and he spun around to face Sosuke, who stood undeterred, alongside his own duplicate. Ichigo-Sosuke had also arrived, completing the formidable trio.
"What? But how?" Genryusai demanded, bewildered by the turn of events.
Sosuke responded with a taunting smirk, arrogance lacing his words. "You only killed one of my bodies. I have plenty more," he sneered.
In a disturbing twist, the Espada appeared behind him, accompanied by several familiar faces from the Gotei 13. Genryusai's grip on his zanpakuto tightened in response to the unfolding chaos. It became evident that the same rules restraining Ichigo didn't apply to Sosuke. The smirk never left Sosuke's face.
"That's right… surrender to despair," he gloated. "There's no hope of victory for you here."
Suddenly, Genryusai-Sosuke took a step forward, zanpakuto poised for combat.
"And also," Sosuke continued, his voice dripping with malice, "thank you for the valuable data."
Genryusai-Sosuke unleashed a scorching heat wave, far more intense than anything Genryusai had produced.
"Bankai…" he growled, his words filled with fierce determination. "Reduce all creation to ash, Zanka no Tachi!"
Amidst the chaos and destruction of Soul Society, the once-proud capital now lay in ruins. The cacophony of battle cries, screams, and the clash of blades echoed through every corner. The desperate voices of Shinigami rang out.
"C'mon, stay with me! We can make it!" one determined girl shouted as she tended to an injured comrade.
"Medic! We need a medic over here!" another girl urgently called out amidst the turmoil.
"Where are those damn reinforcements?! We're pinned down!" a man yelled, his frustration boiling over.
"Get this man to the 4th Division now!" another man barked, his voice laced with panic as he tried to save a fellow Shinigami.
"They're too strong! We don't stand a chance!" a defeated man cried out, his resolve breaking in the face of the relentless onslaught.
"Incoming!" a girl warned, her voice trembling as she saw the next wave of attackers approaching.
"AARRGGHH!" a man screamed as he was struck down, his pain and anguish echoing through the chaos.
Soul Society had descended into chaos, its once-majestic streets now marred by rubble and engulfed in smoke and flames. Aizen and his formidable duplicates rampaged through the capital, leaving destruction in their wake. The Shinigami defenders fought valiantly, but they were hopelessly outmatched, and morale was plummeting. Some even contemplated deserting their posts to flee the ravaged Seireitei.
Amidst this turmoil, the captains of the Gotei 13 clashed with their powerful duplicates. However, it was evident that they were losing ground. Even the Captain-Commander himself lay on the ground, battered and bruised, with his duplicate standing triumphantly over him. Sosuke Aizen regarded Genryusai Yamamoto with a sadistic glint in his eyes.
"You fight well, Genryusai Yamamoto, but you must realize that all your efforts are in vain," he taunted.
With sheer determination, Genryusai slowly raised his head, struggling to regain his footing despite the excruciating pain coursing through his body. Sosuke's smirk widened as he gestured towards the burning cityscape.
"Look around you," he continued his mockery. "Your city crumbles to the ground, your mightiest warriors fall like autumn leaves, and your remaining soldiers contemplate retreat... or at least, those who are still alive."
Genryusai's glare burned with defiance as he continued his struggle to rise to his feet. Sosuke regarded him with a mixture of disappointment and mild amusement, his voice laced with condescension.
"I see... well, you're not the Sotaichou for mere show," Sosuke remarked.
Genryusai-Sosuke approached the fallen Captain-Commander and forcefully slammed his foot down on Genryusai's back, eliciting a painful cough that splattered blood. Despite the agony, Genryusai defiantly locked eyes with his duplicate. Sosuke sighed as if genuinely disappointed.
"Such a pity. I had hoped the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 would put up more of a fight," he mused.
With deliberate slowness, Genryusai-Sosuke raised his sword, poised to deliver the final, lethal strike.
"Oh well," Sosuke lamented as he turned his back on Genryusai. "Farewell, Genryusai Yamamoto."
Just as Sosuke was about to end the old man's life, a blinding flash of white streaked through the air. Genryusai-Sosuke barely had time to react, raising his sword to block a powerful spear of pure energy. The force of the attack sent him stumbling back. Sosuke turned his attention to the unexpected attacker and lifted a brow in mild surprise.
Chojiro Sasakibe stood there, panting heavily, his zanpakuto held before him. Sosuke's amusement sparkled in his eyes.
"Yare, yare. How careless of me to forget about the Fukutaichou," Sosuke admitted, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Those words steeled Chojiro's resolve, and he glared at Sosuke with unwavering determination.
"The Gotei 13, no matter how dire the situation, will always stand to fight against all threats to Soul Society," Chojiro declared. "Attempting to persuade us to surrender is like trying to make a wall speak."
Chojiro raised his zanpakuto so that its blade was perpendicular to the ground, the sword held defiantly before his face.
"We will never surrender, and we will fight to protect Soul Society from the clutches of madmen like yourself, even if it means giving our lives," Chojiro vowed.
Suddenly, the reiatsu around Chojiro surged to unprecedented levels, causing even Sosuke to raise an eyebrow in mild surprise. The atmosphere crackled with electrical energy as Chojiro's power reached new heights.
"Bankai!" Chojiro declared, thrusting his zanpakuto high into the air.
As he did so, a brilliant bolt of lightning shot forth, racing toward the heavens before halting abruptly. It transformed into a shimmering dome of electrical energy that enveloped the area. From the dome, pillars of the same crackling energy sprouted, anchoring themselves into the ground behind Chojiro. Simultaneously, a single beam of lightning ascended into the sky, summoning dark storm clouds that roiled with thunder and lightning.
"Koko Gonryo Rikyu," Chojiro proclaimed, the name of his Bankai reverberating through the air.
Sosuke regarded this spectacle with genuine interest.
"I am impressed, Sasakibe-fukutaichou," he conceded. "Your Bankai is truly a sight to behold."
However, he continued, his tone taking on a more taunting edge.
"Nevertheless," Sosuke added, "If I recall correctly, you managed only to scratch your mentor in his Shikai state. What hope do you have against the full might of his Bankai?"
Genryusai-Sosuke's reiatsu began to fluctuate once more as he transformed his zanpakuto into its Bankai state.
"Zanka no Tachi, Higashi," Genryusai-Sosuke growled.
To the casual observer, it may have appeared as if nothing had changed. But both Chojiro and Genryusai understood the perilous shift in power.
"Chojiro," Genryusai cautioned, his voice heavy with concern, "This technique, Kyokujitsujin, concentrates all the heat along the edge of the blade. Anything touched by Zanka no Tachi will be reduced to ash."
Chojiro nodded resolutely, his gaze locked onto the counterfeit Genryusai before him. Sosuke's grin widened, his eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and challenge.
"So, Sasakibe-fukutaichou," Sosuke taunted, "what will you do now?"
Chojiro remained silent, his eyes locked onto Genryusai-Sosuke, waiting for the right moment. Sosuke, displaying a hint of impatience, took a deep breath.
"Very well," he conceded.
In the blink of an eye, Genryusai-Sosuke materialized right in front of Chojiro, his zanpakuto poised for a lethal strike. Rather than attempting to raise his own zanpakuto in defense, Chojiro extended a single finger toward Genryusai-Sosuke. Suddenly, a brilliant bolt of lightning descended from the heavens, striking the duplicate and propelling him several yards away, skidding to a halt.
Sosuke, despite the situation, couldn't help but smirk.
"It appears your powers have grown significantly," he remarked.
Without uttering a word, Chojiro moved his hands with fluid grace, resembling an orchestra conductor. In response to his intricate motions, bolts of lightning descended upon Genryusai-Sosuke, each perfectly synchronized with Chojiro's gestures. Genryusai-Sosuke, as fast as he was, could only do so much to evade the lightning barrage. He was eventually forced to raise his zanpakuto to block one of the bolts.
Seizing the opportunity, Chojiro launched an attack, attempting to slice Genryusai-Sosuke open. However, unlike the duplicate's zanpakuto, Chojiro's weapon remained unscathed. Sosuke raised an intrigued eyebrow at this turn of events, eliciting a smug smirk from Chojiro.
"Koko Gonryo Rikyu is transformed entirely into pure lightning, including the zanpakuto you see before you," Chojiro explained. "You can't expect fire to burn through lightning, can you?"
Sosuke couldn't help but chuckle appreciatively.
"Impressive, Sasakibe-fukutaichou," he conceded. "But I wonder, can you withstand the intensity of the heat yourself?"
In response, Genryusai-Sosuke activated his Bankai with a menacing growl.
"Zanka no Tachi, Nishi," he declared.
Genryusai's eyes widened with recognition as he suddenly shouted a warning to Chojiro.
"Chojiro! Get away from him!" he roared.
Without hesitation, Chojiro complied, distancing himself from the intensifying heat. He watched in awe as the ground beneath Genryusai-Sosuke's feet crumbled, the scorching heat levels becoming overwhelming.
"Zanjitsu Gokui," Genryusai declared, managing to rise to his feet and support himself with his zanpakuto. "It engulfs my body and becomes as hot as 15,000,000 degrees… in other words..."
"I won't be able to even touch your clone," Chojiro finished with a pensive frown.
He gestured with his hand, directing another bolt of lightning towards Genryusai-Sosuke, who simply deflected it with a casual swipe of his bare hand.
"And it appears to act like some sort of barrier," Chojiro muttered.
Sosuke's grin widened in satisfaction.
"It seems you're at a loss, Sasakibe-fukutaichou," he taunted.
Chojiro gazed at Sosuke for a moment, his lips twitching upward.
"You jump to conclusions much too swiftly, Sosuke Aizen," he retorted, raising his zanpakuto toward the sky once more.
In response, the storm clouds intensified, the lightning bolts becoming more erratic and numerous, striking with greater frequency.
"Oh?" Sosuke raised an eyebrow, observing the heightened activity. "And what do you possess that could possibly breach this heat shield?"
"Kami no Arashi: Saisho no Aku," Chojiro responded, "Chikyu Funsai Saikouritsu."
Suddenly, a colossal lightning bolt descended, striking Chojiro's zanpakuto with immense force. The earth around his feet crumbled, and nearby buildings were tossed from their foundations. With a swift motion, Chojiro directed his zanpakuto towards Genryusai-Sosuke, causing the same lightning bolt to surge towards the duplicate's chest. Before Genryusai-Sosuke could react, the bolt struck, propelling him backward into a nearby building. Chojiro lowered his zanpakuto, observing as Genryusai-Sosuke emerged from the rubble, bearing a searing burn mark on his chest.
"I never realized that the fukutaichou of the First Division possessed such incredible power," Sosuke marveled, a hint of admiration in his voice. "But then again, it makes sense, considering you were personally trained by Genryusai Yamamoto himself."
Chojiro's glare intensified, and his voice grew stern. "You will speak of Yamamoto-sensei with respect, Sosuke Aizen."
Sosuke's smile remained unwavering. "As always, the ever-loyal apprentice," he remarked. "But I wonder, for how long?"
Suddenly, Genryusai-Sosuke thrust his zanpakuto into the ground with immense force.
"Zanka no Tachi, Minami," he growled.
The earth around Zanka no Tachi fractured open, revealing searing magma. From the molten depths emerged what appeared to be skeletal figures. Millions of these grotesque beings crawled out of the ground like ants from a flooded nest.
"Kaka Jumanokushi Daisojin," Genryusai explained solemnly. "This ability allows me to call upon the ashes of those I've slain with my flames to fight for me, becoming my weapons. They will continue to battle until they are reduced to dust."
Chojiro's eyes widened as he realized that some of these undead figures were people he recognized from his daily life in Seireitei, indicating that this other Genryusai had already claimed numerous victims. With a quick leap backward, Chojiro distanced himself from the approaching horde of undead.
Sosuke extended his hand toward Chojiro, seemingly unfazed. "Your move, Chojiro Sasakibe," he challenged.
Chojiro narrowed his eyes, lifting his zanpakuto to the sky once more. The storm overhead intensified, foreshadowing an impending attack. Sosuke chuckled at the sight.
"Oh? Planning to unleash a single powerful attack against a horde of millions?" he taunted.
With a smirk, Chojiro ready to confront the overwhelming threat before him.
"You're still making hasty judgments," Chojiro retorted, maintaining his focus on the approaching horde. "Kami no Arashi: Zokuhen."
Once again, lightning descended into his blade, but this time, the intensity lessened, and an uninterrupted stream of lightning seemed to flow into it.
"Yoshanai Danmaku," Chojiro declared.
From the point where his zanpakuto met the lightning bolt, a barrage of miniature yet potent bolts shot forth, raining down upon the army of charred skeletons. In a dazzling display of power, the lightning bolts reduced them to the ashes they had originally come from. The onslaught continued until every single skeleton had been obliterated. The storm subsided, and Chojiro lowered his arm.
Sosuke, though initially unimpressed, appeared more intrigued now. "Impressive," he admitted. "But your performance ends here."
Suddenly, Genryusai-Sosuke materialized behind Chojiro, his zanpakuto poised for a lethal strike.
"Zanka no Tachi, Kita," Genryusai-Sosuke growled, his blade causing Chojiro to disintegrate into dust. "Tenchi Kaijin."
Genryusai's eyes widened in disbelief, but Sosuke chuckled in satisfaction. "Seems there's still much for you to learn," he taunted. "A pity you won't get the chance."
"A wise sensei once told me that there's always something to learn, no matter how much skill or experience you have," Chojiro retorted.
Sosuke's eyes widened in surprise, and he looked up to see Chojiro floating in the air, completely unharmed. A triumphant smirk played across Chojiro's face.
"Kō Kaminari Fukusei," he explained. "It allows me to create a tangible copy of myself made entirely of reiatsu, capable of moving at the speed of light to any location."
Suddenly, the once-stationary dome moved, now hovering above Genryusai-Sosuke, with the pillars encircling him.
"And now," Chojiro declared, the storm clouds roiling with newfound fury, "It's time to put an end to this battle."
He extended his arms outward, and Genryusai-Sosuke struggled within his electrical cage, trying to break free.
"Kami no Arashi: Saishu-tekina Aku," Chojiro intoned.
Suddenly, a surge of potent lightning burst from the cloud's edges, converging rapidly towards the single pillar of light hovering above Genryusai-Sosuke's prison. As all the lightning concentrated at the center, a blinding flash of light erupted.
"Hikari no Hanketsu," Chojiro concluded.
From the heart of the radiance, a colossal energy sphere hurtled downward, guided by the pillar, and in the blink of an eye, a tremendous explosion of light rocked Seireitei, bathing all of Soul Society in its brilliance. When the light finally dissipated, Genryusai-Sosuke was no more. Chojiro lowered his zanpakuto and sighed with relief, his gaze shifting to his mentor. Genryusai bore his usual stoic expression, but his eyes gleamed with a pride he typically reserved for his "children." Chojiro then turned his attention to Sosuke, who had transitioned from his initial surprise back to his neutral grin.
"Quite the power you command, Sasakibe-fukutaichou," Sosuke commented. "I'd hate to find myself on the receiving end."
Chojiro raised his zanpakuto high again, summoning the dome behind him.
"Unfortunately for you, that may well be your fate," Chojiro retorted.
"I think not," a voice suddenly declared.
Chojiro's eyes widened, and he turned just in time to see Ichigo-Sosuke in his bankai form, poised to cleave him in two.
"Goodbye!" Ichigo-Sosuke taunted as he swung down upon Chojiro.
CLANG!
Silence enveloped the scene as onlookers stood in astonished disbelief. Blocking Ichigo-Sosuke's zanpakuto, preventing its deadly rendezvous with its intended target, was a tall girl. She wore a pristine white blouse beneath a flowing black trench coat, and her black pants tucked into combat boots of the same hue. However, it wasn't her attire that drew everyone's gaze; it was the long, strikingly familiar, bright orange hair cascading down her back.
"Seems like you folks are in a bit of a bind, huh?" the girl remarked casually.
With her black-gloved hands, she held a zanpakuto that was a mirror image of Ichigo-Sosuke's. The very sight held everyone captive. Sosuke squinted his eyes at her.
"You… you must be-," he began.
"Sorry I'm late, old man," a voice chimed in.
All eyes turned to find even more duplicates surveying Seireitei from above. At the epicenter of this assembly stood none other than...
"Ichigo Kurosaki," Genryusai uttered.
Ichigo remained silent for a brief moment, locking eyes with Sosuke. The look in his eyes was chillingly familiar.
"Let's get this started, Aizen," Ichigo declared as he and all his other incarnations unsheathed their zanpakuto.
Sosuke glared, summoning his own bodies (excluding Chojiro and Genryusai), with weapons at the ready.
"I'll put an end to this," Ichigo vowed, "in a single moment."
Big thanks for checking out this fanfiction and leaving a review. I had a blast reimagining this fanfiction, and I hope you had a fantastic time diving into it!