Legacy of the Moon
Arc I: Forbidden End
Chapter 17: The Decisive Stand
However, Sesshomaru didn't notice Genryusai's hand which he just put on his armor right in the middle. The next moment, Head Captain uttered, "Hado 88, Hiryu Gekizoku Shinten Raiho." Genryusai muttered while firing a gigantic beam of electrical and spiritual energy from the palm of his hand, blowing the Daiyokai far away from there followed by an enormous explosion in the end.
That powerful beam had brought great devastation in its path, leaving traces of dust and smoke clouds with burning rubble up to several hundred meters. The destruction was too great that it caught everyone's attention in the Soul Society and thus several Shinigamis including Urahara and Yoruichi began to rush towards the site of the battle. Meanwhile, Genryusai got up on his feet, pulled the Tensaiga out of his torso, and threw it away.
Few hundred meters away from there…
The closed-range shot of the immensely powerful energy wave dragged Sesshomaru far from the place of the battle. He was lying at the end of the rupture ground with the surroundings full of dust and smoke. Soon enough Sajin Komamura, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and Kaname Tosen had reached where he was lying motionlessly in the burning rubble of the broken buildings.
"Looks like Head Captain has taken care of this demon already," Komamura muttered to the other two Shinigami Captains.
"I wouldn't have reached the conclusion so soon if I were you," Mayuri Kurotsuchi responded to him while keenly observing Sesshomaru's spiritual pressure.
"Hmm, are you referring to his fluctuating spiritual pressure?" Tosen asked him.
"Of course, we shouldn't forget that he is a demon after all," Mayuri answered.
"In that case, the battle is still on, we shouldn't interfere in the fight of our Head Captain," Komamura said to both of them.
"Don't worry about it, Head Captain himself told me that no protocol or formality is more important than exterminating the Demons," Mayuri replied and the next moment a gigantic black structure encased the entire site of burning rubble while both Komamura and Tosen were shocked to witness it.
"It seems that there's still some fight left in him," Komamura muttered upon sensing Sesshomaru's spiritual pressure.
"Do not worry, I will make sure that he is dead," Mayuri Kurotsuchi said to both of them as he used Hado 90, Kurohitsugi.
"Then allow me to deepen his eternal slumber, Bankai, Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Korogi," Tosen uttered as he released his Bankai that engulfed the entire Kurohitsugi structure upon taking the form of a black-colored dome of the void.
"If he somehow escaped the Bankai of Tosen then we will stop him using ours," Komamura spoke to Mayuri in a serious tone.
"Ha Ha Ha… indeed Captain Komamura but I doubt that he would be able to even blink let alone break free from this pressure," Kurotsuchi replied in a playful manner.
After several minutes when all the three Captains were almost assured of Sesshomaru's death, suddenly Tosen noticed that the gigantic Kurohitsugi structure had started to get cracked.
"That's impossible! How can he still possess so much of the strength?" Tosen mumbled shockingly upon sensing the skyrocketing spiritual pressure as the Kurohitsugi structure started to crumble down while his Bankai structure was shaking heavily. Soon enough an immense explosion of overwhelming demonic energy destroyed the entire Kurohitsugi structure as well as the dome of Tosen's Bankai while he got blown far away from there and fell unconscious.
The next moment, Sesshomaru appeared in the form of a gigantic silvery-white dog while Genryusai Yamamoto arrived there as well.
"BANKAI! Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo!" Kurotsuchi uttered while staring at Sesshomaru.
"BANKAI! Kokujo Tengen Myo-oh!" Komamura spoke loudly.
Both the Captains couldn't help but abruptly unleashed their respective Bankai upon sensing the overwhelming power of Sesshomaru while Genryusai Yamamoto was once again prepared with his Shikai to deal with him.
On the other hand, Urahara and Yoruichi were also shocked to witness the giant and fearsome form of Sesshomaru from a far distance. They decided to reach there as soon as possible upon noticing that Komamura's and Kurotsuchi's gigantic Bankai creatures were about to clash with Sesshomaru.
Both the Bankai creatures had seized Sesshomaru. Kokujo Tengen Myo-oh was swinging his sword upon him from the front while Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo was releasing his poison from behind. The gigantic canine was looking at both of them one by one while barking fiercely. Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo didn't realize that Sesshomaru had deadlier poison inside his body and thus his poison wasn't working on him. However, it was too late to realize it because by that time the Daiyokai had caught Kokujo Tengen Myo-oh's sword in his jaw and damaged it by the combination of his sheer jaw strength and his deadly poison. The dripping poison from his jaw had started to spread in the surroundings in the form of a powerful miasma (poisonous mist). Soon enough the sword snapped into two halves while there was enough miasma in the surroundings to make both the Bankai creatures as well as both the Captains too uncomfortable to stay close.
Sesshomaru pushed Kokujo Tengen Myo-oh away by a powerful headbutt on his chest and now he was completely focused on Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo. The latter extended several retractable blades from his midsection and rushed towards the Dog Demon with immense speed. Sesshomaru rushed back at him with even greater ferocity. Demonic miasma had already affected both the Bankai creatures and thus their movements were no longer at their complete potential. The Daiyokai loped at Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo and critically injured both of his eyes with a powerful claw attack. Sesshomaru had already landed behind the gigantic Bankai creature but the blinded Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo was unaware of it. Eventually, he ended up clashing with Kokujo Tengen Myo-oh which resulted in a powerful explosion. It not only shook the entire Soul Society with the tremors but also generated powerful shockwaves and bolts of spirit energy while the entire place got filled with smoke and dust clouds. Soon enough it got cleared that both the Bankai creatures were defeated and disappeared following the explosion while Captain Komamura was lying unconscious on the ground. Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi, on the other hand, managed to escape from there after the destruction of his Bankai.
Now only two of them were left standing for the final showdown i.e. Sesshomaru and Genryusai. The giant Daiyokai was quite injured and his body was releasing unusual bolts of Demonic energy which wasn't a good symptom. On the other hand, Genryusai was all set to destroy Sesshomaru with his Shikai, the wound on the right side of his belly had also stopped bleeding. At first, Sesshomaru barked at the old Shinigami and then both of them rushed towards each other. Sesshomaru tried to crush him under his huge claw while Genryusai dodged it, jumped in the air, and inflicted a vertical cut on his left shoulder but the produced flames got extinguished by the release of demonic energy from Dog Demon's body. Without wasting any moment, Head Captain once again swung his Zanpakuto on him but this time Sesshomaru blocked it with his huge nails, and now the old Shinigami began to have a hard time pushing his claw away.
Suddenly the ground beneath Genryusai began to crack by the force with which Sesshomaru was pressing him from the top. Soon enough the ground ruptured and the Head Captain fell into the sewers while Sesshomaru also got misbalanced due to a damaged base. "Taimatsu," Genryusai Yamamoto's voice echoed as he swung his sword while falling, setting the ground above him on fire. Sesshomaru had already weakened to a significant extent and after getting caught in the flames he couldn't maintain his demon form and eventually reverted into his human form.
A comparatively large area got destroyed in their battle with several buildings and barracks crumbled to the rubble. The ground was severely damaged while the surrounding area was filled with flames and miasma making some places practically invisible due to the excessive dust and smoke. Sesshomaru's wound on his chest seemed to be slightly opened and he was struggling to get back to his feet while Genryusai was slowly walking towards the Daiyokai in order to finish him off. "It seems I have to unleash an even more destructive technique of my Shikai in order to finish you off," the old Shinigami uttered in a serious tone.
"Ennetsu Jigoku," Genryusai spoke as he stabbed the ground with his Zanpakuto, and the next moment a spark of liquid fire branched off in intricate circle pattern formations and created seven immense pillars of flame, which surround the area. The scorching heat of those flames scattered Sesshomaru's miasma in no time but before the old Shinigami could have done anything else, Urahara arrived there and stood right in front of Sesshomaru with his Shikai unleashed.
"Please, stop Head Captain!" Urahara requested.
"Step aside, Urahara Kisuke… or prepare yourself to share the same fate as this demon," Genryusai responded to him as he raised his spiritual pressure to a dangerous level and summoned immense flames around his blade in order to direct them on Sesshomaru.
"I am afraid I can't do that Head Captain, Blood Mist Shield!" Urahara replied and the next moment he used a shield technique of his Shikai.
"Do you think this shield will last in front of Ryujin Jakka's flames?" Genryusai spoke while unhesitatingly shooting the flames toward him in the form of a violent surge.
Suddenly a wave of spirit energy combined with electric energy collided with that surge of fire and slowed it down to a significant extent while another wave of tiny petal-blades reduced its power even further and ultimately Urahara's Blood Mist Shield managed to block the remaining portion.
"Kuchiki-san, Yoruichi-san!" Urahara spoke with slight amazement while Sesshomaru also turned his attention towards them with a surprised look on his face. Genryusai, on the other hand, stared at them in a serious manner as his Ennetsu Jigoku technique was slowly taking a deadly form.
"Don't forget that you two are currently nothing more than the infiltrators in the Soul Society and you will join their position if you didn't stop here, Captain of Squad 6, Byakuya Kuchiki," Genryusai said to all the three of them in a strict tone.
"I have no plans of going against the Soul Society but I can't stand or partake in the acts influenced by grave misjudgments, especially when the Gotei 13 intends to execute someone unreasonably who has been a great help to the Seireitei, and I hope both Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihoin are here only to ensure the same thing," Byakuya said to Head Captain.
"If all of you are here to block my path then I have no choice but…" Genryusai said while addressing all three of them but he was interrupted before he could have completed his statement.
"Can we also join the discussion, Yamaji?" Kyoraku muttered as he arrived there along with Ukitake.
"Forgive us for interrupting you like this, Master Genryusai," Ukitake spoke as well.
"What are you two doing here?" Genryusai asked them.
"Yamaji, we think that there is no reason for us to battle against Sesshomaru," Kyoraku suggested.
"He didn't come here to harm the Soul Society in the first place; in fact, he helped us in exterminating those Hollows," Ukitake said while backing Kyoraku.
"None of you understands that he is the harbinger of doom for the entire Soul Society," Genryusai roared at both of them in a slightly irritated manner.
"It's not like we don't know anything, Head Captain. I have done my homework after infiltrating the Department of Research & Development and Kuchiki Family Manor," Urahara replied to him with a smile.
"We have also studied all ancient documents about Yokais and yet we believe that we shouldn't kill him," Ukitake said from his as well as from Kyoraku's side.
"There is so much more which is not on records, the Hollows attacked the Soul Society only when this demon visited the Hueco Mundo, this is no coincidence," Head Captain responded to them in an annoyed tone.
None of them could have said anything because they knew that Genryusai Yamamoto was right while the next moment, Ennetsu Jigoku reached its final phase and started to destroy everything in the area in which those seven pillars of fire were surrounding. "I am going to stay here and watch this demon getting incinerated by the flames of my Ryujin Jakka. However, it is up to your choice, whether you all wish to back off or join this demon in the afterlife," Genryusai Yamamoto in his usual strict tone.
"Looks like Yamaji is not going to make things easier for us," Kyoraku said to Ukitake. "Everyone, let's take care of Ennetsu Jigoku first," Ukitake spoke while addressing everyone. "Bakudo 81, Danku!" Byakuya, Urahara, and Ukitake spoke simultaneously and three transparent barriers of energy appeared between them and the three pillars of fire. Now Byakuya commanded his Senbonzakura petals to swirl around one of the remaining four pillars of fire in order to constrain its increasing power while Yoruichi began to use her Shunko power to weaken the other one. The remaining two were being pressurized by Kyoraku and Ukitake while Urahara was still standing in front of Sesshomaru with his Blood Mist Shield active as a precaution against Genryusai Yamamoto.
The Head Captain didn't say anything upon watching the Captains trying to help Sesshomaru but he simply raised his spiritual pressure and ordered Ryujin Jakka to intensify the attack. As a result, several other pillars of fire appeared out of the ground, leaving absolutely no chance of survival for any one of them. The situation made everyone quite worried, Byakuya and Urahara decided to unleash their Bankai while Kyoraku and Ukitake were about to release their respective Shikai but before they could have done anything suddenly everyone got shocked to notice that Sesshomaru began to head towards Genryusai while raising his spiritual pressure.
"What are you going to do?" Urahara asked anxiously.
"No, Sesshomaru don't…" Yoruichi shouted at him worryingly.
However, he didn't stop, and the next moment he grabbed the burning blade of Ryujin Jakka with his bare hand which shocked even Genryusai himself. Now the Daiyokai began to raise his spiritual pressure with as much intensity as possible while Genryusai was still unable to conclude the meaning behind his actions. Everyone present around him was clearly feeling his rising spiritual pressure moreover they were getting affected by it while Genryusai mumbled upon realizing Sesshomaru's intentions, "Don't try to do the impossible!"
"What is he trying to do, Kisuke?" Yoruichi asked with concern.
"Oh… if I am not wrong then perhaps, he is trying to…" Urahara spoke but stopped.
"Perhaps what, Kisuke?" Yoruichi asked in an insisted manner.
"He is trying to..takeover Ryujin Jakka," Urahara answered with slight hesitation which shocked everyone else and they immediately turned towards Sesshomaru.
In the cut-throat struggle for spiritual power, Sesshomaru succeeded eventually, though he gained control of the sword only for a few seconds yet it was enough to fulfill his intentions.
"Dragon Strike!" Sesshomaru spoke loudly and the next moment, immense thunderbolts generated in the blade and as well as in the surroundings which eventually hit the pillars of fire and destroyed them one after another. However, the overuse of demonic energy while suffering the injury to the heart, proved to be fatal for Sesshomaru as the next moment he fell unconscious while his spiritual pressure fell to a critical level.
Urahara quickly grabbed him from behind before he could fall on the ground while Yoruichi immediately approached the Head Captain and said, "You can see now Head Captain that he does not intend to harm the Soul Society or its people."
"Yamaji… obviously you know more than us but still I would like to suggest that we should let him go," Kyoraku requested him.
"Indeed Master Genryuusai, we shouldn't overlook his actions that have proved to be beneficial for us," Ukitake requested as well.
"Hmm… Central 46 will be taking the final decision on him and all of you as well," the Head Captain said in a serious tone before he walked away from there.
"I don't think Central 46 will hold him guilty," Ukitake said to Kyoraku in a serious tone.
"We can only hope, Uktiake!" He sighed and then responded in a slow voice.
"He doesn't seem alright, Kisuke!" Yoruichi spoke to him with concern while taking a closer look at Sesshomaru.
Now Urahara slowly made the unconscious Sesshomaru lie down on the ground and started to examine the condition of his demonic spiritual pressure. Upon examining him properly for a few minutes he immediately looked at everyone and muttered, "He needs immediate medical attention. His condition isn't looking good… he's been fighting all this time with this serious injury on top of his heart or maybe in his heart," he spoke to everyone in a serious tone.
"He was able to face and defeat so many opponents even after he was deeply injured while Yamaji also didn't use his Bankai on him," Kyoraku spoke with surprise.
"You are right Kyoraku… we are lucky they didn't clash with their full potential," Ukitake responded to him.
"Let's take him to Squad 4 barracks immediately," Yoruichi said to Urahara with concern.
"Wait! Bring him to the Kuchiki Manor. I will go and make the preparations also I will order Squad 4 officials to send a special relief team over there," Byakuya told them while leaving which slightly shocked everyone since it was oddly generous of him.
Urahara and Yoruichi picked unconscious Sesshomaru up and supported him on their shoulders while quickly rushing towards the Kuchiki Manor. On the other hand, both Kyoraku and Ukitake decided to give directions to their squad members about the recent events before they left to prepare for the Central 46.
To be continued…