Chapter 45: Ryoga

"I've underestimated you little girl, but play time is over from here on out I'll get serious" Yakra said as he slammed his zanpakuto into the ground where it began to glow a dark brown colour. "Shatter their bones Ryoga" he roared pulling it up covered in rocks which he proceeded to smash away with his fist revealing his released zanpakuto, the hilt had disappeared and was just a long handle while the blade itself sprouted out huge jagged spikes which continued all the way until the top of the blade which arched out horizontally making it look like a huge hammer covered in nails.

Slamming Ryoga into the ground Ania felt the entire ground quake as she lost her balance staggering slightly which Yakra used to his advantage charging straight at her a loud humming sound coming from the wind racing across his spikes. Swinging upwards he cleaved Ryoga across Ania's torso as her blood went splattering onto the ground beneath while the force of his blow knocked the wind from her bruising a rib or two.

"How can his strength change so much in a matter of seconds" Ania thought wheezing as she tried to catch her breath or even breathe properly while Yakra lent on Ryoga "There's so much power behind Ryoga that when it connects with people's bodies it tends to shatter opponent's bones". "Ugh I don't even know if I can match him now that he's released his zanpakuto" Ania attempted to stand back up as Yakra picked Ryoga up "Are you really sure you want to continue?"

"I'm not finished yet" Ania managed to breathe out as Yakra sighed "Fine then" as Ania was paying more attention to Yakra's movements she never expected that one of the spikes on Ryoga would come flying off the blade at breakneck speed and lodge itself straight in her shoulder. A shocked expression came over her face as she stared at the giant spike sticking out while her blood spurted out and the complete shock caused the pain to delay but when it hit her she screamed out dropping Kanzen Bi and clutching at the wound.

"While it's been fun I think it's time to end this" Yakra laughed as another metal spike from Ryoga came flying off this one aimed directly for Ania's heart as she could only shut her eyes and slowly wait for it to end her life.

"ANIA!" Mitch's voice roared as he erupted from the bushes racing directly in front of her as he grabbed the spike with his bare hand stopping it inches from her chest. Ania slowly opened her eyes to find him holding the spike in his right hand as blood slowly trickled out while he was simply grinning at her "Looks like I arrived just in time".

Dropping the spike he turned his back on Yakra and caught Ania who all but fainted after realizing she was safe with Mitch's arrival. "You did pretty good considering he's a commander, but I'll take it from here" he placed her gently on the ground before looking at the gash across her chest "Looks like he roughed you up a fair bit". "This one definitely has to go" he said looking at the huge spike embedded in her shoulder as she winced "This is going to hurt isn't it?"

Gripping it with both hands he yanked it cleanly out with a sick nasty squelch as a spurt of blood came spraying out followed by a cry of pain from Ania. "Jeez that went deep" Mitch looked at the gaping hole before tearing a piece of his robe off and tying the wound up "That should hold it until we get you back to Seireitei" he said to Ania who had passed out from the pain "Don't worry I'll finish this quickly".

Turning back to Yakra his eyes blazed a bright red colour while there was pure anger on his face as the commander simply smirked at the prospect of a new challenger. "Enlighten me as to who I'm going to kill today" Mitch growled while Yakra simply laughed "I'm Yakra Hashin 4th in command of the White Lotus Society and who might my new challenger be?" "Mitch Erebus, 4th seat of the 11th squad".

Upon hearing the 4th seat Yakra slapped his knee laughing "They sent a 4th seat against me? Now that's hilarious" "I'm only the 4th seat because the others are all filled up" Mitch said grinning unsheathing Ashura as flames erupted all around the blade. "Rain fire from the heavens ASHURA!" wiping the flames off his blade Mitch's released zanpakuto was revealed while Yakra's smirked promptly vanished "This kid is far more powerful than his seat lets on".

Elsewhere Tom and Matsumoto were escorting the injured 10th squad members back to Seireitei as they felt a huge explosion of reiatsu. Looking over they spotted huge flames flaring up into the sky as Tom smiled "Well looks like Mitch managed to arrive in time, now the party will get started".