You're gonna waste your time

Your life will soon be mine

Captain Hitsugaya, nor anyone that stood behind him, could stop their shudders. Even Ichigo trembled at Aizen's might. Under the weight of spiritual pressure and fear, Momo collapsed to her knees, leading her captain and Rangiku to rush to her side. Her face lost its color as she drew closer to a panic attack.

Toshiro's rage resurfaced. He snatched the sword from his back and turned his attention toward the battlefield. Instead of preventing him from taking action, Ichigo gripped his weapon and prepared to follow Toshiro. However, Kisuke Urahara Flash Stepped in front of them to halt their hasty actions.

"Why?" Hitsugaya asked. "What are we waiting for? They need our help."

Urahara kept his eyes ahead. "It won't help anyone if you get yourselves killed."

"So what the hell are we supposed to do then?!" Ichigo said. "Are we here to just sit back and watch them get torn to shreds?"

"No, we craft a plan based on the current situation. Instead of rushing into a fight you have limited information on, find out what you can from those that are already there."

Four hybrid Saiyans lunged toward Aizen to expose any sort of weakness he had. When the group collapsed on him to strike, Aizen pushed them back with the sheer force of his aura. He then teleported behind Grimmjow and slashed him in the back. Before Grimmjow countered, Aizen shot an energy blast that carried to the ground.

Aizen appeared in front of Gohan and sliced into his shoulder. While blood spilled out of the wound, Aizen grabbed Gohan's shirt and launched him through his tower. Goten and Trunks rushed at him from behind with their Zanpakutos, but Aizen turned toward them and smiled.

"You're both like your friends: easy to read and full of openings." Aizen appeared between the both of them. He elbowed Trunks in the nose, then rammed his fist into Goten's stomach. After the duo recoiled, Aizen snatched the back of Goten's head and slammed it into Trunks. Once they sank to the ground, Aizen flew above them to unleash a hoard of energy blasts onto them. Goten slashed his sword and formed an ice barrier to shield them, but the volley broke through the ice with ease. Blast after blast rained down on the two and exploded, one on top of the other.

Once Aizen finished, the half Saiyan duo laid next to each other, struggling to move. Blood streaked down their faces from a cut on their foreheads. Half of Trunks' robe remained on his body, while Goten's orange gi disappeared and gave way to his tattered blue shirt.

"How the hell do we make it out of this?" Trunks asked.

"You're asking the wrong person," Goten said. "But… maybe if we can get out of here, we can wake Beerus or Champa up and they could handle him."

"From what I've heard, they really don't like to be woken up. So even if we could, I'm pretty sure they would end up killing us, too."

"Then what about the Omni-King?"

"Yeah, let's call Zeno so he can erase another universe. Great idea."

"Okay, smartass. What's your plan, huh?"

After a few seconds, Trunks turned to his friend, eyes widened. "Wait a minute. If we die, won't we get sent to the Soul Society? Maybe we can regroup there and form a plan."

Goten sighed. "You know, I thought of that weeks before we got here. But here's the big problem: all of our bodies are Reishi here. If we die, we'll get reincarnated. At least that's what Toshiro told me."

"Then why don't we grab the container with the souls, get everyone together, and get the hell out of here?"

"You really think we can all run from him? And you had the nerve to talk shit about my ideas."

"Where's Kisuke where you need him-"

"Hey! Can you guys hear me?" Goten and Trunks' eyes lit up.

"Ichigo?" Goten asked.

"Are you guys alright? What's going on over there?"

"We are not alright. He cut my arm off and possibly ruptured multiple parts of my digestive system with one punch. This guy is a fucking nightmare."

"Toshiro and I are coming to help. We can at least take some pressure off of you guys for a bit."

"Unless you can take away his immortality, stay where you are," Trunks said.

"Immortality?!" Ichigo asked. "Shit! How are we gonna stop him now?"

With his hand on Ichigo's back, Urahara interjected. "There's still one way to beat him."

Trunks and Goten raised their eyebrows and sat up. From above, Aizen smiled and raised his hand to them once more. Before he unleashed another wave of blasts, Gohan and Grimmjow charged at him to mount an assault. Though Aizen dodged all of their strikes with ease, they bought Goten and Trunks more time to speak with Urahara.

"Kisuke?" Trunks asked. "You can use telepathy?"

"I'm using Ichigo as a buffer to speak to you, but that's beside the point. When I fought Aizen in Karakura Town, I fired a Kido into his body. Hidden inside of that Kido was another Kido for a time such as this. It's a seal that embedded itself within the Hogyoku, making it impossible for him to remove it. The seal will take effect once the Hogyoku weakens, and for that to happen, Aizen needs to come face-to-face with an enemy that is in an entirely different tier than his own. Once the Hogyoku witnesses an opponent with power it can't surpass, it will reject him as his master and siphon his strength."

"But we hit him with everything we had and that only made him stronger," Goten said. "How do we generate more energy than that?"

"Is there anyone or anything you know that's stronger than your fusion?"

"The only viable people I can think of would be our dads." Goten looked off into the distance beside them. "But as it stands, they're-" Goten stopped and stared with astonishment.

Once Trunks gazed in the same direction as his friend, his mouth fell open. "D-Dad?"

Vegeta struggled to push himself to his hands and knees. If one of their fathers regained consciousness, the other would soon follow. Trunks and Goten willed themselves to their feet with a new fragment of hope.

Goten grinned and resumed telepathic communication. "So here's the plan: we're gonna buy our dads time to get their strength back, then distract Aizen long enough for them to fuse. That's our only option."

Trunks, Ichigo, and Urahara agreed. The two Saiyans shared their strategy with their other allies before they leaped back into battle.

"Dammit. He's turned himself into a monster."

Crippled with agony, Vegeta fixed his attention on the battlefield. With his armor destroyed, the only clothing that remained on his abdomen was his torn blue jumpsuit. Several bruises and wounds lined his face and body. However, he needed to act fast.

Vegeta ate the remaining half of his Senzu bean, healing most of his injuries without restoring his energy. He then kneeled over Goku. Since Goku wore no shirt, Vegeta grabbed him by the shoulders.

"Kakarot!" He shook Goku back and forth. "This is no time to be napping. Wake the hell up before I beat you awake."

Goku winced, then murmured. "Huh? Vegeta? What's going-" With enlarged eyes, he gasped at Aizen's power. "No way! That can't be him!"

"Whatever fighting took place while we were unconscious must've increased his power level."

Goku rushed to sit up, but his back still stung from Wonderweiss' sneak attack. However, he ate half of a Senzu bean and recovered from his injuries. The Saiyans stood together and watched their allies fall at the hands of Aizen.

"Even at full power, we wouldn't even make a difference," Goku said.

"This would be a great time for that Ultra Instinct of yours to show up."

"If only I knew how. I haven't been able to use it since the Tournament of Power."

"So we're stuck here with barely any power to spare? How wonderful."

"Damn. If only I still had the Mafuba jar, we wouldn't have to worry about his immortality."

"Immortality?! When were you going to tell me this?!"

Goku chuckled. "Sorry, I forgot to mention that one. I found out when I fought him."

Vegeta groaned. "Fantastic. Now we're really dealing with another Zamasu. So how do we go about finding his weakness?"

"You guys have to fuse!" Goten said. The pure Saiyans gasped.

"Fusion?" Goku asked. "But we can't kill him, Goten. Fusions not gonna work."

"I know he's immortal but there's a seal placed inside the Hogyoku. If it sees someone ridiculously stronger than him, it'll weaken and put him away for good. That's our only chance of winning."

"But we don't have nearly enough strength right now to draw that kind of power," Vegeta said.

"We'll stall him until you're ready. Just stay there and gather all the energy you can."

Goku clenched his fists, but yielded to his son's proposition. "Alright, go ahead. But whatever you do, don't be reckless. You need to stay alive, not win."

"Okay, Dad. I'll try my best."

Though they were forced to the sidelines, the two Saiyans hurried to charge their energy.

Aizen evaded Gohan and Grimmjow before he debilitated Gohan with a chop to his collarbone. Grimmjow leaped away from Aizen with glowing blue fingertips. Long blades of Reishi stretched out from each of his claws.

"Desgarrón!" He slashed his hands and launched the attacks. Aizen waved Kyoka Suigetsu and shattered the blades in one motion. Sonido allowed Grimmjow to close the distance between them. Before his claws reached Aizen's face, Aizen clutched him by the throat and held him up. Grimmjow tried to pry himself away, but the fingers only sank deeper into his neck.

"It's quite unfortunate that you've thrown away your life like this," Aizen said. "You had so much potential. We could've been the most dominant Saiyans, no, the most dominant warriors ever."

Though he gasped for air, the rage in Grimmjow's eyes remained. "You're… no Saiyan. At least a… Saiyan has… honor."

"Foolish like your ancestors. You waste your lives placing value on concepts like honor and pride before you seek knowledge from the world around you. You're a dog that chases the same ball around for the entirety of its life. But I digress. Before I put you down, I'll show you how honorable and prideful you were on Sadala."

Before Grimmjow responded, Aizen forced him to relive his betrayal of the Saiyan race via Kyoka Suigetsu. The horror and shame of capturing his own people destroyed his will. When Grimmjow's air supply ran short, Aizen released him. Once he touched the sand, Aizen sped toward him and stomped his foot into his sternum. Grimmjow cried aloud, then reverted to his base form and slumped out of consciousness.

Aizen glanced at his former subordinate with disgust. "You spent so much time diverting blame. In reality, you can only hold yourself accountable for being powerless and complicit-"

From behind, Gohan fired a Masenko. With little effort, Aizen swatted the blast away, then appeared before him. Gohan hopped backward to distance himself.

"Oh, Gohan," Aizen said. He pointed a finger. "You will always be a disappointment." A thin beam pierced Gohan's shoulder. He gripped his boozing wound and tried to maintain his composure. "You've wasted your potential, and that has caused everyone around you to die. You only seem to learn your lesson whenever it's too late."

Another blast shot into Gohan's knee, which caused him to collapse and grimace in agony. Aizen narrowed his eyes. "Though I somewhat respect your intellect, your weak-minded nature sickens me. You could have been the strongest if you desired to be. But alas, you've reached your end."

Aizen teleported behind Gohan, then clutched his neck between his forearm and bicep. He soared into the air before he flipped and sped to the ground. Gohan could not break free, and once they approached the ground, Aizen freed him. Unable to slow his momentum, Gohan plunged head-first into the sand below. His body protruded from the waist upward; his legs fell back with all tension released.

While Aizen floated down, Trunks rushing beside with a charged Getsuga Tensho. Once Aizen faced him, Goten appeared above with his sword raised behind his head. Aizen smirked, then teleported to Trunks, gripped his blade, and tossed him to the ground. Before Goten changed directions, Aizen appeared next to him and cut through the ice wing on his left side.

Aizen whispered into Goten's ear. "That could've been your arm." Goten sought to counter-attack, but Aizen clutched his face and flew downward. Goten's back slammed into the sand, causing him to yelp.

Aizen released his grip and stood over top of him. He then lifted his foot and drove it into the open wound from Goten's severed arm. Goten's subsequent wails of anguish echoed throughout Las Noches. His body writhed as Aizen pressed and twisted his heel into his shoulder. Pain far surpassing anything he had ever experienced shot throughout his entire body.

"It's been quite a while since I've heard your taunts," Aizen said. "What's the matter? Have you realized your bravado was for nothing?" After he withdrew his foot, Goten drew deep breaths. Agony sent him into a cold sweat.

Satisfaction curled Aizen's lips upward. "Mindless like your father, and pathetic like your brother. It's a shame to see such a battle-savvy fighter express exceptional stupidity-"

Goten dropped his Zanpakuto and fired a blast at the Hogyoku. However, Goten's teeth clenched when he saw that his attack did nothing to damage the orb, let alone Aizen.

Aizen reached down and seized him by his hair. "If you value your remaining arm, then I suggest you stay away from the Hogyoku." He lifted Goten up and slammed his face against his knee, breaking his nose. Aizen pulled him back once more and drove his knee into Goten's stomach.

While he coughed out, Aizen clenched him by his shirt. "Your suffering can end if you stop resisting. Admit defeat now and I will put you out of your misery."

Goten continued to pant, but much to his enemy's surprise, he smirked. "Suck the skin off my dick, you stupid bi-."

Aizen tossed him away. As Goten laid face up, Aizen kicked his ribs several times. Before Goten endured any more torture, a slash of black and red energy hurled at Aizen. He jumped off of Goten and into the air. Trunks landed in front of his friend, ready to fight in his place.

"Trunks…" Goten wheezed. "Don't… don't do it."

Aizen floated down, then strolled toward them. "I know that you're eager to throw your life away, but it's not your turn. Once I'm finished with him, you will be next."

Trunks stepped back. His hands shook, but in an act of desperation, he fired a continuous stream of energy blasts at Aizen. Light and dust obscured his vision as he flung his hands back and forth.

Aizen stepped from the dust and backhanded Trunks into the sand. Goten stumbled to his feet, but a kick to the chest forced him high into the air. He controlled himself, but purple and black energy surrounded him and blocked out all light.

From below, Aizen lifted two fingers. "Hado #90, Kurohitsugi." The black coffin shut around Goten and crushed him under an immense load of gravity. The Kido dissipated and revealed many lacerations across his body and ice wings. With his hair reverted to its natural color and his eyes rolled to the back of his head, he sank toward the desert.

Trunks rose from the ground and gasped at the sight of his friend. However, Aizen's outstretched hand prompted Trunks to speed into the air. A blast fired toward unconscious Goten, and once it neared its target, Trunks committed all of his remaining energy into Tensa Zangetsu. He arrived in front of Goten and tried to shield them both.

"Getsuga, Tensho-" Trunks swung his energy, but the attack overwhelmed him. He cried out as he absorbed the full force of Aizen's blast. The ensuing explosion boomed throughout the castle.

At that moment, Vegeta nearly leaped into battle, but Goku reminded him they needed to gather all the strength they could. He yielded his rage, but continued to regain strength, determined to exact his revenge.

On the other side of Las Noches, Urahara struggled to keep Ichigo and Toshiro from dashing in. Behind them, Soi Fon found it difficult to restrain herself. Bottled-up frustration ate at her. If things continued as they did, she doubted her ability to stand in the same place.

Two bodies plunged into the sand. Goten's wounds bled as he lay unconscious, while Trunks' skin seared from the blast. Amidst a grim situation, Trunks' mind roamed.

Hot, dry, and sandy. Those three words encapsulated his current environment, though its discomfort was the least of his worries. Pain pulsated throughout his body. Blood streamed down the front of his face and stained the scorching sand. A stabbing sensation in his sides indicated that most of his ribs had been broken. Under the rays of the artificial sun, his lungs ached for a drop of water. In only an hour, his spirit had been crushed several times. However, his father's teachings accompanied the throb in his head.

You were born with royal Saiyan blood. If you can still breath, you can still fight.

It would've felt much better to roll over and die, but too many people depended on him. He could never face his family again if he quit. With his eyes slivered open, Trunks hobbled to a hunched posture.

"I don't think I could even look at a beach after this." He spat sand out of his mouth. "Dammit. If there's any god out there listening, we could really use divine intervention right about now."

"Poor Mr. Briefs." A man teleported in front of Trunks and startled him. Trunks lifted his eyes to the person responsible for all of his agony. With a sadistic grin spread across his lips, Aizen held Trunks up by his tattered shirt. He spoke in a soft and collected manner. "After all this time, you still don't get it? I am your god. Now bow."

He released Trunks, but before he hit the ground, a sharp fist smashed into his midsection. Trunks dropped to his knees. While he clutched himself, he hacked spit onto the ground.

Somebody. Anybody, please. Help us!

"I find you to be a very interesting case," Aizen said. "The prospect of losing your friends, family, or the lives of a hundred billion people did not solely motivate you. You were also driven by love: a selfish emotion that leads you to irrational thoughts. If I tell you I'm going to slit Soi Fon's throat right now, you'll lose yourself in a rage."

"Shut up!" Trunks shouted. "Just shut the hell up!"

"Do you see? It's a very predictable weakness of yours." A blow to the side of Trunks' skull caused him to tumble away. Aizen walked over to him and chuckled. "There's no need to worry. I won't slit her throat. Instead, I'll opt to dispose of her as I did with her five brothers."

Trunks held his breath, but Aizen continued to speak. "They all fell victim to my experiments. My Hollows ripped two of them apart, while the other three didn't survive Hollowfication. I didn't intend to make her suffer, but I always found it fascinating that we later became associates."

"You monster! I won't let you-" Aizen cut Trunks short with a stomp on his bicep. The bone snapped in half. Trunks screamed until Aizen forced a forearm into his throat. Once Aizen's arm moved to lift Kyoka Suigetsu, Trunks clamped his eyelids and turned his head away.

"Let's make a deal," Aizen said. "If you witness my sword's release, I'll end your pain."

Trunks responded to with silence. Trading physical pain for mental affliction would only enhance his suffering.

Aizen chuckled. "Well, since you've refused my initial offer, I'll propose something else." Aizen withdrew his arm and snatched Trunks' jaw, forcing him to face upward. Trunks continued to shut his eyes, but the edge of Aizen's blade pressed against the corner of his eye. "If you don't wish to see Kyoka Suigetsu, then Kyoka Suigetsu will make sure you see nothing at all."

His heartbeat punched through his chest. Aizen's cold steel a single droplet of blood to trickle down the side of his face. Before he reasoned through a way out, the sword sliced across his eyelids. Aizen released Trunks and stood to his feet. Trunks cried out with his hemorrhaging eyes clutched.

As he succumbed to excruciating pain, Aizen opened his hand and fired a volley of energy balls. Each blast that bombarded caused his body to thrash around. Once Aizen finished, he dropped his hand and marveled at his work.

Burns and blood spread across most of Trunks' body. Deep wounds revealed his muscle structures and had even exposed bones. His hair shifted to its lavender color, while his Zanpakuto changed into its broader Shikai form. Aizen grinned and turned away, but after a few steps, he stopped. His smile faded when he turned to Trunks, willing himself up once more.

Sweat mixed with blood poured down his forehead. Every fiber of his being longed for rest, but he persisted for an inexplicable reason. It may have been an attempt to buy more time, or it could've been for the sake of his pride. Either way, Trunks lumbered to his feet and gasped for air.

His loss of sight skewed his sense of direction, and the sun's rays scorched onto his injuries. However, he locked onto Aizen's energy signal and wielded Zangetsu in his only capable hand. Without an ounce of energy left in his body, he leaped toward Aizen and flung his sword.

Aizen swiped his sword at Zangetsu and broke it in half. With another swing, he slashed Kyoka Suigetsu along Trunks' midsection. Trunks fell to his knees and clung to the wound. His weakened body collapsed, and sand absorbed the red fluid that flowed from him.

Before he walked away, Aizen chastised him one final time. "You lived an insignificant life. You'll only be remembered as a stepping stone in my path."

Life raced out of Trunks at an alarming rate; he struggled to keep his head raised. His skin grew cold and numb as he drew closer to faintness. Blood crept out from the corners of his mouth and painted his lips. He'd been acquainted with this sensation before, but nothing would save him this time.

Visions of his family and his friends flashed through his mind's eye, as well as the short life he lived until that point. Tears welled up in his lacerated eyes. His wavering voice rasped an apology.

"I'm… so sorry. I failed you all… again…"

The broken Zanpakuto disappeared from his hand. Trunks' face lowered into the sand. The last remnants of his energy faded away.

As Aizen approached Goku and Vegeta, Goten opened his eyes and jolted at his friend's body. He strained himself and stood, only to find Trunks in his own blood.

"No. No… please…" Goten shut his eyes and lowered his head. A lump in his throat persisted as he fought back tears. However, Goten clenched his fist, then turned his sorrow into relentless wrath.

With Grimmjow still motionless and his brother waist-deep in the ground, Goten had to face Aizen alone. Though his missing arm limited his attacks and threw off his balance, he needed to give it his all to stall for time. His sword laid distant from him, but his Bankai remained active. As his wings regenerated, he devised a strategy and prepared to engage his enemy.

As soon as Trunks' energy signal vanished, the hearts of the group standing by sank. Ichigo almost lost control until Soi Fon flew into a fury behind him. She grabbed the hilt of her sword and prepared to lunge into battle. Her blade made it halfway from its scabbard before Yoruichi snatched her arm.

"You can't!" she yelled.

Soi Fon swiveled with a gaze of rage. "Get the hell off of me!"

Taken aback by the pain in her friend's eyes, she softened her expression. "Soi Fon… please."

The captain gritted her teeth, but relented. Her ire eroded; her chin slumped down into her chest. "There's no point in watching this," she whispered. "Once Aizen's killed them, he's going to come for us next. So why are we standing here, waiting for death?"

No one gave an answer. However, Ichigo agreed. What would any of them do that those on the battlefield hadn't already tried? Failure seemed imminent, and he couldn't stop its arrival. His worst fears were realized. Aizen had won.

A voice called out to him. "Hey! Ichigo!"

Ichigo gasped. "Goten?"

Without hesitation, Hitsugaya jumped into their telepathic conversation. "Goten, tell us what's happening."

"Good, you're here, too," Goten said. "Then I'll only have to say this once. I'm gonna give Aizen everything I have. While I attack, the two of you need to transfer your energy to my dad and Vegeta. All you need to do is stretch out your hands and send your power in their direction. After that, get healed and hurry over here."

Before Ichigo or Hitsugaya replied, another voice interjected. "Hang on!"

"Grimmjow?" Ichigo said.

Grimmjow still laid in the sand, crippled by his injuries. "Send your energy to me, and I'll transfer it to them. If you send it directly, Aizen can track the energy signal and find out where you're hiding."

"That's fine," Ichigo said. "But Goten-"

"I have neither the time nor the patience to debate this right now," Goten said. "As soon as I fight, just do it!"

"You can't fight him on your own," Toshiro said. "Wait for us to get there." Goten didn't respond. "Dammit, Goten! What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

"You didn't have enough time to regain your strength," Aizen said to Goku and Vegeta. "Though it's not like it would change anything. No fusion will ever overcome immortality."

"Arrogant bastard!" Vegeta raged. "You've crossed me for the last time!"

Vegeta readied himself to charge at Aizen, but Goku stopped him. "We can't fight him yet. If we try to take him on now, we'll lose everything."

"What other choice do we have?! There's no other way to-"

"Aizen!"

Goku and Vegeta gasped. Aizen sighed, then turned to Goten's seething glare.

"No, Goten!" Goku shouted. "Just stay back!"

Goten motioned his enemy toward him. "We're not done yet. I'm still standing."

"You should listen to your father," Aizen said. "You're barely standing as is."

Goten yelled and transformed to Pseudo Blue. "Even if it kills me, I'll give you hell."

"Ah, I see. You bear those eyes: eyes of hatred. Those are the same eyes Hitsugaya had just before I cut him down. But you're different. No amount of physical pain will force you to submit. I suppose I'll have to change my approach."

Aizen's smile deepened, causing Goten to raise an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"Instead of tormenting you further, I think I'll scour the area and look for your hidden Soul Reaper friends." Goten's swelled eyes accompanied his intensified pulse. Aizen chuckled at his apprehension. "I'll pull Momo's heart out of her chest. Then, I'll decapitate Rangiku and crush her head under my heel. Finally, you'll get to watch Hitsugaya hang from the ceiling."

He turned toward the entrance to the castle as Goten quivered. "No… stop." Once Aizen summoned his aura and prepared to fly, Goten's energy exploded from his body. "I said stop!"

"And what do you suppose you'll do to stop me? You'll only end up like your dying friend and your pitiful brother."

Unable to quell his boiling blood, Goten gave in to his animosity. He abandoned all restraints and unleashed every ounce of power he possessed.

"Kaioken, times twenty! "

A violent, red aura overshadowed him and spread far from his body. Aizen smiled while waves of dust flew toward him. "A flame burns brightest just before it goes out."

"No! You can't!" Goku yelled.

"Goten, stop!" Toshiro shouted from afar.

Both cries fell on deaf ears as Goten dashed at Aizen with tunneled vision and numbness. For his family and friends, he spurred into action. To protect the Soul Reapers, he persisted. To buy his father and Vegeta time to fuse, he surpassed his limits.

Goten had to ignore whatever consequences may come later. He had to do it for them.

A/N: Well, I… I don't even know what to say.

That was rough. I've planned this for a while, but as I actually got down to the details, I really had to reach into a different place to bring out this level of violence. And as slightly uncomfortable as it makes me now that I'm done, I wouldn't change a goddamn thing. It needed to be done.

Couldn't hold onto this for any longer so please forgive the weekday drop. The next chapter will be tentatively titled "King of Predators", named after the OST of certain Togashi anime.

As always, thanks for reading. I just want to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who has engaged with me so far. It's always appreciated and it makes my day. Keep it coming, I love it!

And maybe just an FYI, but I did a chapter count, and I believe we're about halfway through, possibly a little less.

Have a great day and I'll catch you next time :)