'So this is where you live?' Ichigo commented impressively as he looked around the inside of the living room of Chad's home that had basic yet stylish décor, with brown tiled marble floors, bright yellow wallpaper, fancy seats and tables, and patterned furniture. A great smooth stone fireplace stood on the left side of the room, while on the right stood a massive open window balcony that overlooked the rest of the villa. Which open up to an archway that contained several gardens with a fountain in the center and a massive pool down a hilled walkway. 'Didn't know body-guarding a bunch of delivery guys could pay so much
Chad then shrugged. 'My boss is always generous to those that serve him well and faithfully, whenever it be in money or setting up living arrangments'
Ichigo is then sweet-dropped. 'So your saying...this boss of yours gives you this stuff for free just by doing a good job?'
Chad then looked at his friend with curiosity. 'There are other ways to pay people besides money Ichigo and thus I wouldn't call my new living arrangements something I got for free' He then walked out to the balcony and then looked at Colenoies mansion on top of an even larger hill. 'Basically, I just view this all as a privilege and nothing else'
Ichigo then gave Sado a funny look. 'If you say so Chad, but still...' The prince then sat on a couch and placed both his hands behind his head. 'I don't understand why you are so glumped despite your boss, giving you a literal mansion for you and your grandfather to live in
Chad then kept himself quiet for a bit and began to shake his fist. 'Let's just say that he has...high expectations for those who carry out his orders...and has little patience for those that don't follow them
Ichigo then raised an eyebrow. 'So what is he a drug lord or something?'
Sado's fist then tightens into the grip and Ichigo upon seeing this lets out a deep breath.
'Look Chad...' Ichigo began to say as he walked up to his friend. 'I went through a lot of shielded cities all across the globe, from my home country of Japan to to the United States, and this is not the first one I've seen that has been taken over by a crook and nor do I have any right to tell how to live your life
Sado then looked at Ichigo in confusion. 'You won't?'
Ichigo then shrugged. 'Oh, sure there are plenty of criminals out there who commit crimes, just for personal gain, to make a name for themselves, or even to gain power over others. But there are also other criminals, who commit crimes just to survive, to support and protect the people they love...and more often than not don't have a choice in the matter' He then leaned on the bench while Chad stared at the young man in astonishment. 'And it is obvious that you are the latter'
Sado then took everything Ichigo said and then looked at himself and then thought back to his grandfather. 'So you...don't think I live a shameful life?'
Ichigo remain quiet for a moment and then looked over the sky. 'I would be lying if I said you didn't...but then I would come off as fucking hypocritical bastard if I admit it, mainly because I...don't that much of an honorable life ether'
'But don't you go out of your way to save and protect people?' Sado asked in confusion, but Ichigo just slowly shook his head.
'Not by choice...'The prince answered sadly. 'As I said before, I don't make it a habit of saving people, regardless if it is part of my duty or not, and often the people I have saved are scumbags who aren't even worth saving. Such as Snobby nobles who looked down on other people, racist fucks, who would rather die than get saved by a hybrid freak...' his eyes then narrowed darkly. 'Or full-on monsters who commit the worse crimes imaginable and rub it right into my face that I help them get away with it
Chad's face then fell as he looked at Ichigo. 'But what about the innocents and those that needed saving?'
Ichigo then thought it about a moment and then sighed. 'They like you are the exception Chad and if anything those are the only types of people I want to protect that are worth saving...but no. My job is meant to save everyone regardless of who they are because it is my duty as the black prince'
Sado then looked at his friend sadly and struggled to find something to say to comfort him. 'And you truly have no say in the matter for that at all?'
Ichigo then looked at Sado and then breathed in deeply and then looked up at the sky. 'If you consider an ultimatum as choice...as the Black Prince, I'm Yhwach's successor to the throne of the king of souls. The living lynch-pin meant to hold all three of the worlds together, to act as the absolute ruler of the Holy Kingdom, and to carry out that role, one must value all life equally, make necessary sacrifices for the greater good and above all else, one must be a servant of the people to act as their protector and leader' His hands began to shake. 'But...I can never be that kind of man Chad' he then looked out over into the distance 'I loath the world too much for that'
'It was then at that moment I realized that the Ichigo Kurosaki, The black prince, the Successor to god himself...wasn't all that different than me, aside from being in a much worse position. Just as I was forced into a life of crime to support my only family member. He was forced to be a saint and a king to serve the world itself regardless of how kind or cruel it could be
Chad then looked down at his left hand.
'I didn't know what to say to relieve his angst or whenever or not I had the right to. But such thoughts were put on hold...
'When then the invasion began'
Suddenly without warning both Ichigo and Chad felt the presence of thousands of hollows surrounding the city along with several Arrancars.
'The Hell?' Ichigo questioned as he saw the foul spirits gathering around the city. 'Are they trying to get through the barrier with sheer numbers or something?'
Sado however looked at the sky closer and then a horrible realization hit him. 'No... they're coming in because there is no barrier to stop them!'
'What!?' Ichigo almost screeched and when he looked back up not, only was there no barrier, but the, hollows were swarming in mass above the city.
But before he could draw up his bow and shoot them all down. He suddenly got a call from his phone and immediately picked it up
'Ichigo!' Robert's voice called out from the phone. 'What is your position!?'
Then Teen grunted as he responded. 'I am at sector 58, but I'm kinda busy here dealing with this invasion of Hollows right now and for some reason, the barriers of the city are down'
Robert then mumbled something to himself and then replied to Ichigo. 'Then that confirms it'
The prince then shuddered at hearing what the commander said. 'What do you mean?'
'I mean Kurosaki, that nearly every city across the state has their shields down and are all being assaulted by hoards of Hollows as we speak'
Ichigo and Chad's hearts then nearly stop in sheer shock and dread at what the just heard as Robert continued.
'And not only that but the sun gates are down as well. Meaning that until reinforcements arrive, You and the current city forces will have to fight off the enemy on your own. While getting any citizens into the underground shelters as soon as possible understand? 'Robert explained. While Ichigo tightens his hands In frustration and Chad stiffens his body.
Ichigo then let out a deep breath. 'Yeah I understand commander you can count on us' he then hung up his phone. 'Alright, I suggest you either fight alongside me or get your grandfather to the shelter' He then aimed his black bow at the quinces. 'Because either way things are going to get messy real soon
And just as Ichigo warn my entire hometown was torn asunder by the Hollow invasion. As screams of the innocent filled the air and Soldats and Agents fighting and dying in doves to protect the city, I tried desperately to find my Abileo within the villa to get him to safety.
But then, I felt a massive surge of spiritual power coming from the Jackal's mansion one I thought shouldn't be possible.
Meanwhile within the Jackal's mansion. Oscar stood over a pile of unconscious men and women while stretching up his arms and cracking his neck as if doing a workout.
'Well well...' The crime lord comment with sarcastic praise as looked at his fallen men while sitting at his desk. 'Didn't expect that Sado's dear old Grandfather would prove to be such a fighter' He then turned his gaze to the old man. 'Though I am rather curious about why you decided to assault my home while we are in the midst of an invasion
Oscar then closed his eyes and golden his arms. 'Let's just say I rather take care of the one who is orchestrating this invasion to properly end it' He then glared sternly at Cavendish. 'Along with permanently ending your tyranny over this city'
The Jackle then let out a light chuckle. 'A bold claim, but do you honestly have any evidence to back it up?'
The aged man then narrowed his eyes. 'How about the fact that your mansion is the only place that is not being attacked by hollows, or your men being overlooked while the innocent are not or perhaps...' he then pulled out a white wasp from his shirt pocket. 'The fact that this was found buzzing around your place and after just having one of my friends look into it I found this...' He then pressed a hidden button on top of the white wasp's head and a holographic recording of Covendia talking to Neil and Nnoitra. Which then made the crimelord's face darken...before a smile crept on his face.
'Surly we come to some sort of deal?'Cavondi offered. But Oscar remains impassive.
The crime lord then began to circle the man. 'After all you of people should know that once my crimes are known to both the Holy Kingdom and Xcuation. The entire city would be put under martial law and whatever little rights the civilians have would be taken from them indefinitely and not only that...' he bared his teeth in a sickening grin. 'Your Grandson could very face execution for being a direct accomplice to this my crimes'
Oscar then remains silent for a moment before giving out a dismissive huff. 'You oversimplify the policies of both those nations if you honestly they would confuse an unknowing pawn for an accomplice and I can be even more sure that whatever martial law they do invoke will only last as long until they eventually replace you' he then narrowed his eyes on Covendia who then began to strain in holding his smile.
'Do have that much blind faith in those self-righteousness bastards?' The crime lord said with a raised voice that was laced with irritation.
'...righteous enough to believe that you deserve a second chance...when they found out about your treachery the last time
'Do not speak to me about treachery!' Covendia snapped in fury and bared his teeth at Oscar. 'All I wanted was to spread my business across the outside world and make this city far more prosperous than it ever was before. But instead of acknowledging it. Both of them allowed their morals and pride to get in the way of their better judgment. Which in turn made the people of this beloved settlement suffer!'
Oscar then snapped his own eyes in fury. 'And you tried to amend that by endangering the lives of thousands with your dealings with the Hollows, how does that solve anything!?'
The Jackal then stared at the elder for a moment and then let out a dark and cruel laugh. 'Oh I am Afraid you are not seeing the full picture, Senor' he then sat on one of the chairs turn to its backside, and lean his arms on it. 'You see the Arrancar I have made a deal and they said that if I lowered the barriers of all the shielded cities across the state, they would forbid any of the hollows or at least those in their army from attacking my crew in the dead-lands and the cities. Plus given their main target is killing all the Quincy's and fullbringers that alley themselves with the Holy Kingdom and Xcuation...' he lead on and Oscar then came to a terrifying realization.
'You would be able to rule all of the cities across the state with no opposition' His fists then shook in rage. 'This was never about helping our people, but just getting more power and taking revenge on those who brought you to justice!' He got into a fighting stance. 'To think that I allowed myself to be blind to such evil and be so cowardly to allow my Nieto to use by you...' Oscar's spiritual power rose from his body to the point that it rapidly pushed back the air around him 'But it ends here today
Covendi then stared at the rising power that Oscar unleashed. But most people would cower or at least be imitated. The man remain calm as he slowly rose himself up from his chair and walked around the elder once more.
'It's a shame really...' he said in a slight disappointed tone. 'But just like with the Holy Kingdom and Xcuation...' his own eyes glowed a dark sinister emerald green and then pulled something hidden beneath his white shirt. 'You allow your self-righteous blind you to the world at large!'
Suddenly Oscar was then surrounded by dozens of pillars that morph up from the floor and formed a makeshift cage around him and as the old man stared at them, he realized that they were also infused with Crimlord's spiritual power.
'Allow me to enlighten you on how I managed to disable the shields of all those cities' he pulled out a gnecklace which had a golden pendant attached to it in the form of a small tribal idol'
'El Dorado...' The Jackal mused as he rubbed the golden pendant between his fingers. 'A Fullbring that allows me to manipulate and restructure any form of a man-made object. Whether it be architecture, technology, or even one's clothes that are infused with my spiritual power, and since I had the attire of all my men infused with said power when they arrived in those cities. I was then able to use them to spread my influence throughout all those settlements across the state. To the point that I could even deactivate those pesky shields and the sun gates the Quincy used to teleport!' He then smugly walked up to the trapped Oscar. 'But of course, it can just as easily imprison...and crush anyone who dares stand in my way!'
Then with a single thought, a huge pillar suddenly formed and came down from the ceiling above the old man, but instead squished him flat. Oscar causally caught and stop it with one hand, much to the Jackal's shock.
'That is truly an amazing Fullbring you have and knowing its capabilities it's little wonder why so many cities fell before its power all at once...but unfortunately' he then pulled out a gold piece coin from one of his left pants pockets. 'I am the worst opponent for you to face against'
He placed the coin in front of his face.
The Soundtrack of Choice: Medieval Total War 2 OST: Spanish Battle
'Flames of Liberation'
The gold coin then transformed into an elegant long sword, with the eagle forming a gilded guard and the snake warping around the bottom half of the blade. While bright bronze flames dance among its edges.
Yet despite the radiated display of the weapon, The Jackle merely smirked. 'And what exactly is that little flame cracker going to do?' he asked mockingly. 'Simply burning out of your prison is not going to be enough-
Suddenly Oscar cut through all of the stone pillars in an instant, much to the disbelief of the Crime Lord and when he looked at the sliced glowing markings of the pillars he realized they were breaking apart until there was nothing visually left of them.
'Flames of Liberation...' Oscar announced. 'It doesn't produce flames, that burn things to ash, but rather breaks down the molecular bonds of anything that gets engulfed in them. Whenever it, be earth, stone, or even one's flesh and bones' He then raised the flaming sword to his face and the Jackle began to slowly back away in fear. 'So are you willing to surrender and once against face judgment for your crimes?' The old man asked. But Covandi just sneered in outrage.
'Don't get full of yourself you old bastard!' he then formed several more pillars from the walls behind him and then launched them at Oscar who casually sliced through all of them, yet the Jackle refused to let up as he then switched from forming pillars to forming canons among the wall and shooting balls of solid stone at high speeds even as the old Fullbringer continued to quickly slice them apart.
'I am the lifeblood of this town, the one who kept it together when those self-righteous quincies abandon us! I was the one who gave your son a job and roof under both of your ungrateful heads when no one else would and if I hadn't sacrificed a few undesirables, all of us would have lived and died in poverty!' He then pressed his hands together and caused two of the walls in his office to slam into Oscar only for him to cut them apart as well. 'You should be aiding me alongside your grandson, for the sake of this city, this state, this entire country. Not defending two cold-hearted men that don't give a damn about us!'
Oscar grunted at that remark and then pointed his blade at the Crimelord.
'Fuegos De Pureza' (Fires of Purity)
Then in an instant, an inferno of bronze suddenly surrounds The Jackle but instead of disintegrating him, only the floor and ceiling above him were affected. Trapping him in around an inferno of bronze fire.
'So you would rather have the holy kingdom and Xcuation, two organizations who risked their lives every day and do their best to aid us in this war. To turn a blind eye to your heinous crimes and become just as rotten as you!' Oscar accused angrily while pointing his sword at Cavondi who could only growl In frustration. 'The only thing that you cared about in all of this was yourself and you are so blinded from this simple fact. That you end up buying into your lies'
The Jackal was about to retort once more. Until heard someone coming from the door and then smiled cruelly when he saw who it was, while Oscar looked on in dread.
'Albnio?' Sado spoke in a tone of confusion and betrayal.
