Legacy of the Moon
Arc II: Dawn of Dreams
Chapter 36: Unifications II
"You are going to separate them, don't you?" Mayuri asked further.
"Yes, smart guess," He replied with his usual funny smile with a fan.
Mayuri didn't reply to him and after some time Ichigo walked into the laboratory along with little Nel while her Fraccions were prevented from entering S.R.D.I. premises. The Septima Espada was also taken to the laboratory unconscious just like Findorr.
"Don't worry, Nel… I will stay here with you until everything is done," Ichigo said to her upon leaning down to her stature.
"You promise Itsigo?" She asked innocently in a scared voice.
"Yes Nel, I promise… I and Orihime will not let anything happen to you," He answered in a determined tone.
"I will also stay here Nel… everything will be alright very soon," Orihime replied.
"Nel is ready then," She murmured while looking into their eyes with hope.
Now Nemu took the initial steps of taking out the Hollow Mask remnants from Zommari's body while Roka collected them and filled the crack on Nelliel's Mask with them, covering the crack with her special Hollow material bandage. Orihime was keeping Nelliel in her lap all this time and then she brought her close to Urahara upon his gesture. The Shinigami in sandals and hat injected sedatives into her body in order to make her fall asleep and then connected the bodies of Zommari and Nelliel with a machine through various sharp flesh-piercing plugs. Both Ichigo and Orihime were looking quite worried about Nelliel because those plugs were making her bleed.
"Don't worry you two… she will be fine, I know what am I doing," Urahara told them with a smile.
The next moment, both Mayuri and Urahara pressed some buttons to activate the machines and soon the transfer of core spirit energy started from Zommari to Nelliel. Mayuri was monitoring their physical condition them while Urahara was monitoring the flow of spiritual energy. They weren't inside the glass chambers, unlike Halibel and Findorr. Everyone waited for a few hours for the process to complete and as Nelliel was slowly coming back to her adult form her spiritual pressure was also getting restored. Soon everyone present in the laboratory began to feel the power of her spirit energy.
"Looks like now she is going through the final phase of her transformation… from her spiritual pressure it is clear that she is as powerful as an Espada," Urahara spoke as everyone was feeling her skyrocketing spiritual pressure.
"Hmm…" Sesshomaru responded to Urahara.
The moment her transformation into adult form was completed, her powerful spiritual pressure began to affect all the instruments in the laboratory. The glass chambers were vibrating while the machines connected to it were getting overheated.
"Inoue-san envelop this machine inside your barrier," Urahara told her abruptly.
Now Orihime immediately summoned a barrier around those machines and within a few seconds it exploded but the barrier successfully contained the entire explosion. Mayuri immediately looked at Urahara with annoyance upon which the latter said, "Don't worry, I will pay for it."
"You have to," Mayuri responded.
"We need to put them into the glass chambers now," The Shinigami in sandals and hat instructed after which Mayuri gestured to Nemu to help them.
Ichigo picked up Nelliel in his arms and gently made her lean in the glass chamber while Nemu placed the unconscious Zommari in another glass chamber next to her. Once both of them were in the glass chambers with proper arrangements, Urahara pressed some buttons on the panel in order to fill those chambers with the same transparent liquid that he used during the operation of Halibel.
Now once again the core spirit energy transfer started from Zommari to Nelliel and after some time the crack of Nelliel's mask started to fill with the melted Mask remnants of Zommari. Within a few hours, the transfer was completed without any complications and then they were taken out of the glass chambers.
While Urahara was examining Nelliel's condition, Mayuri asked him, "What's special about this girl?"
"Nothing… I am just checking if the entire process was completed without her developing any internal problems, the blond Shinigami replied.
"Then don't you think, you should be checking the other Espada before her? His condition is looking bad moreover you were aware of his condition even though you didn't seem much concerned about him, why?" Mayuri asked him.
"Because he and that other Arrancar whom I used in the operation of Halibel-san… they aren't supposed to survive this series of operations," Urahara replied.
"I see… this is indeed very unlikely of you," Mayuri responded before he stepped back and sat down on his seat.
All of a sudden Stark entered the laboratory in his Resurreccion form while Ulquiorra was also with him in his Segunda Etapa. Mayuri and Nemu were extremely shocked to feel their spiritual pressure since it was the first time they had witnessed these two in their released states.
"Stark, it's good that you have arrived here, I wanted to talk to you before the operation." Urahara said told the Primera Espada.
"Hmm… what is it, Mr Urahara?" Stark asked him.
"Even though we have discussed everything… we still leave the final choice to you. Regardless of your decision today, you will still be an essential part of our group, we will respect your choice. So what's your final decision, Stark?" Urahara asked him in a serious tone.
"That is very kind of all of you but I have decided… Separate us!" The Primera Espada replied in an equally serious tone.
"Hmm… you know there can be consequences, even the worst ones," Urahara responded.
"Yes, I know and I am ready to face anything but Lilynette must survive this," Stark replied a bit anxiously.
Now Mayuri stood up from his special chair and muttered while walking towards Stark and Urahara, "Don't you think, it will be much easier and safer for you two to get combined forever?"
"Really? Is it possible?" Lilynette's voice echoed from the pistol.
"Yes, I know but I can't take away Lilynette's life from her. I want her to enjoy life and the company of people instead of being forced to hang out with me. I want her to stay safe always and thus I can't drag her to the wars with me, especially not against foes like the demons of hell. I know we have friends now and also the ones who will protect her even if I die. She will have a life to live after me and that's why I have chosen this way… our permanent separation…!" Stark replied to Urahara in a deep tone while looking at Sesshomaru.
"Stark… you…" Lilynette's voice echoed again but she couldn't say anything because of her heavy emotions.
"Alright then Stark, I will not say that it will be completely safe for both of you but I will do whatever it takes to save not just Lilynette but you as well. I want you to keep Lilynette in the form of energy wolves in your magazines instead of pistols," Urahara replied to him while analyzing the details on the large screen in front of him.
"Besides, I have examined Nelliel's condition, she is fine but she might need longer healing than Halibel because she needs recovery from her spiritual pressure," Urahara said as he finished analyzing Nelliel's condition.
Soon the soldiers arrived to take her to the Squad 4 barracks where she was going to receive the healing but Ichigo stopped them and preferred to take her there personally.
Now Urahara got busy in the preparations of Stark's operation. He activated several other machines and panels which he didn't use in former operations. On the other hand, he instructed Roka to cover Stark completely in her special Hollow material bandages. While Roka was about to cover his face, he looked at Sesshomaru for the last time.
"I will keep my vow in any situation," Sesshomaru uttered in a reassuring way.
"Don't worry Stark… we all are with you," Roka softly said to him.
Now Nemu helped Stark in getting inside the glass chamber and she sealed it after putting the breathing mask on his face. Urahara initiated the process as usual by filling it with the transparent liquid followed by releasing the sedatives to make him fall asleep. He was now floating in that transparent liquid and very soon both Stark and Lilynette fell into a deep slumber while the scenes of their past in the Hueco Mundo began to appear in their consciousness. Those scenes reminded them of their life in the Hueco Mundo, the way they lived together, and most of all how deeply they always cared about each other.
As usual, Mayuri was analyzing their physical conditions while Urahara was working on their spiritual structure.
"This time your work is going to be more critical," Urahara told him while focusing on the details of Stark and Lilynette on the screen.
"None of them is fodder, right?" Mayuri asked him.
"Of course not… we have to save both of them," Urahara replied as he looked back at him with a slightly annoyed face.
"If you are seeing their spiritual structure then you must have realized by now that they are two beings… but more like twins born with one of their body parts common," Mayuri said to him after a pause.
"Yes… and if we try to separate them then one of them is going to lose the body part for sure," Urahara muttered.
"Indeed," Mayuri responded in a serious manner.
"Nemu-san, I want you to connect an empty glass chamber with the glass chamber in which Stark is there. Kurotsuchi-san, please provide Roka with a Gigai. Roka-chan, cover this Gigai with the Hollow material as well. Afterward, we need to put this Gigai into the glass chamber right beside Stark," Urahara spoke to them while thinking about the plan in his mind.
"Huh! Just are reminder that you are no longer the president of S.R.D.I.," Mayuri muttered to him before he pointed towards a box.
Urahara and Orihime found a fitting Gigai and put it on the stretcher while Roka began to wrap it up in her Hollow Material. On the other hand, Nemu had connected the empty chamber with the one with Stark inside it.
"Kurotsuchi-san, can I look at your reports about Stark?" Urahara asked him.
"Because you see something has changed about him?" Mayuri asked him back.
Urahara looked at him with a slight shock and confusion before he asked abruptly, "What do you think it means?"
"My Tensaiga," Sesshomaru uttered to them.
Urahara and Mayuri looked towards him as he spoke further, "My Tensaiga cures all natural weaknesses upon reviving a being,"
"My body disintegrated due to the overuse of spiritual pressure in Segunda Etapa form but in the previous battle against Aizen, I used far more power than I used against Ichigo and yet I didn't feel anything that alarms me about my disintegration," Ulquiorra muttered while supporting Sesshomaru's statement.
"I see…" Urahara responded.
"That means they shouldn't have much trouble upon their separation because the weakness of being unable to survive must have been cured upon his revival," Mayuri said to Urahara.
"Still we will be careful," The blond Shinigami replied.
By now the glass chamber beside Stark was all set with a Gigai inside it and thus Urahara commenced the transfer of Stark's energy into that chamber without wasting any moment.
"Nemu–san, can you please prepare two more glass chambers one on the left of the empty one and another on the right side of Stark. Put Zommari in the one at Stark's side and Findorr in the other," Urahara requested to Nemu while she looked at Mayuri for permission and moved only after getting it.
Meanwhile, Urahara's plan was working as Lilynette's energy was the first one that was leaving Stark's body and thus eventually getting collected in the Gigai. The energy was getting disconnected from Stark's body because of the Gigai and it was slowly weakening him but the Shinigami in sandals and hat continued the process regardless.
"Their physical condition is not good," Mayuri informed him.
"I know but at this point, we can't stop the transfer… this has to be done fully now," Urahara replied with concern.
Suddenly both the glass chambers began to illuminate with immense blue light as the spiritual pressure of Stark was spreading across them. It seemed as if an explosion was about to take place. Urahara still tried to continue the process since it was necessary. Soon a mild explosion took place inside both the glass chambers and the scenario horrified Urahara. The Gigai in which Lilynette's spiritual pressure was getting collected got blasted while there were cracks all over Stark's body. The right side of his entire torso and his face were especially affected while his blue spiritual pressure was glowing inside those cracks.
Urahara immediately took his Benihime out and cut the cord that was connecting the two chambers and transferring the spirit energy from Stark to Lilynette. This made both of them extremely unstable both physically and spiritually. Now he quickly connected Findorr's chamber to Lilynette and Zommari's chamber to Stark and started the transfer of core spirit energy so that they could get stabilized. Slowly the chaos from the blast was dissipating inside the chambers revealing Lilynette in her base form with her Zanpakuto but she had lost her Hollow hole. On the other hand, Stark also appeared in his base form, he didn't have his Zanpakuto with him but now he had two Hollow holes on his torso.
Mayuri and Urahara made sure one last time about their health and once both of them seemed out of danger, they continued the process of the transfer of energy. There were several instances of ups and downs in their condition during the process but once it was finished their condition stabilized. On the other hand, as everyone anticipated, both Findorr and Zommari lost their lives because eventually, they ran into a severe lack of spirit energy.
Soon enough both Stark and Lilynette were taken out of their respective glass chambers and provided with stretchers to lie down. Now both Mayuri and Urahara examined them before declaring them normal. The soldiers present in S.R.D.I. took them to the Squad 4 barracks for general healing.
"This was the ultimate end of Septima Espada but his sacrifice will not go in vain," Sesshomaru spoke while looking at the dead Zommari inside the glass chamber.
"Yes, I think the Espadas must have acquired some core abilities of Findorr and Zommari," Urahara said to him.
"In my opinion, it is safe to say that they are more powerful than before and their ranking no longer serves any purpose now," Mayuri muttered from behind.
"Hmm, I see…" Sesshomaru responded.
The day after tomorrow, very early morning
Kuchiki Manor, Chamber allotted to Sesshomaru by Byakuya…
Sesshomaru sent a message to Urahara, Kyoraku, Ukitake, Stark, Halibel, Nelliel, and Ulquiorra a day before and now everyone was present in his chamber along with Byakuya, Ichigo, Orihime, and Yoruichi.
"I called everyone to discuss the plan ahead and the solutions to possible upcoming problems," Sesshomaru said to everyone.
"It is always nice to have a strategy before we have to answer in front of Yamaji or Central 46," Kyoraku mumbled with a smile.
"There's an upcoming problem about the place of living for Espadas since they can't go back to Hueco Mundo while Soul Society will not allow them," Sesshomaru spoke while looking towards Stark, Halibel, Nelliel, and Ulquiorra.
"Where do you think they should go?" Urahara asked him.
"They can live in my world and make it their permanent home," Sesshomaru responded.
"Yes, that's for the best in my opinion as well," Ukitake responded as well.
"I agree and most probably Lilynette will agree too," Stark murmured.
"I also think it will be good. I will talk to my Fraccions about it," Halibel replied in agreement.
"I am happy that we are going to live together as a new Espada team although I would like to spend a few days with Ichigo before going to your world. I hope you won't mind Lord Sesshomaru," Nelliel spoke in her usual joyful tone.
"I have no problem in going to Lord Sesshomaru's world," Ulquiorra provided his opinion as well.
"Amm… can Ulquiorra stay with me for a few days like Nel-chan is going to stay with Kurosaki-kun? I want to show him the Karakura town," Orihime said hesitatingly.
"Haha haha… you can't say no to their request," Yoruichi said to Sesshomaru.
"It's alright… I will send Jaken here. Nelliel and Ulquiorra can come to my world later with Jaken," the Daiyokai replied.
"Thank you so much," Nelliel and Orihime replied to Sesshomaru.
"I think we can get more allies once we reach the headquarters of these infernal demons because some of the Espadas didn't want to go with them," Kyoraku muttered.
"Yes, it's possible," Halibel spoke in agreement.
"I doubt if it's going to be this easy… Orkos is involved with infernal demons and he can manipulate memories so most probably the Espadas will be under his control," Sesshomaru replied.
"Don't worry Sesshomaru… you will get all the help you need from the six of us… I, Kyoraku, Byakuya, Urahara, Yoruichi, and Isshin," Ukitake said to him.
"I can also command my Yokai army in case extra help is needed here," Sesshomaru replied.
Stark, Nelliel, Ulquiorra, and Orihime were shocked to know that there was an army of Yokai under Sesshomaru's command.
"Do not be shocked… Lord Sesshomaru does not belong to our time. His world is actually the past of our world. He is from a world that is 500 years behind ours and he is the prince of the largest Yokai Empire of his time… the Feudal Era!" Halibel told to the three of them which further shocked them.
To be continued…
Replies: Thank you Monster King for all the reviews.
Author's Note:
My dear readers, this was the final chapter of "Arc II: Dawn of Dreams". Hopefully, you guys have enjoyed the story so far. I am aware that this arc must have left you with several unanswered questions such as:
Upcoming adventures of Sesshomaru and Espadas in the Feudal Era?
What Orkos will do since he has gained control of the Hueco Mundo?
What those Infernal Demons are going to do with the abducted Espadas?
What is hiding in the big picture? What is the grand scheme of the Infernal Demons?
Don't worry because the story is far from over and thus all of these questions will be answered in "Arc III: Dystopia – Death's Ballet" (Tentative Name). At this point, I would like to request you that please let me know through your reviews/comments what you think about the story so far. What do you like in the story and if you have any doubts or questions about any portion or concept of the story? Your valuable response will motivate me to keep writing and updating my story on a regular basis. Thank you so much for reading my fanfiction, I will be continuing it from Chapter 37 onwards but it will take me a few months before I resume the story because of real life and also I need time to prepare and plan the future content nicely so that everything is well connected with the far future.
Stay tuned…
