The end of an era, the figure in the shadow's plans.

Number of posts : 248 Age : 33 Registration date : 2009-08-02

The first arc is going to be put up piece by piece. it won't be a piece a day, but it should make it easier to read.

Number of posts : 248 Age : 33 Registration date : 2009-08-02

The room was bathed in bright light, from every possible angle so no shadows could be cast. The espada, what remaind of them stood in the room. Eight men and women, only two were missing, but every head fraction stood before he figure. His great rolling mass of shadow defied the light, broke the rules and existed in this room. Jacques Le Mort, and Judas were not here, they had been missing for quite a while now, and many others wanted them proclaimed dead. But the figure knew better.

“My espada, welcome to this meeting on our day of testing. Soon we shall strike, and each of you knows the plan.” A whip of shadow shot out and split in three prongs. “Azazel, Pain, Xena, you three go to the real world with as many arrancar and hollows you see fit, up to a thousand should suffice.” The shadow hands whipped out again, picking out two more arrancar. “You two, go through the dangai into soul society, I will make sure the senkai gates open for you on the other side, then remove those annoying garganta blockers.” The rest of the arrancar grew restless, they wanted to know their part. “The rest of you stay out of this, you'll see why later.”

“Are you just sending us to die, and keeping your prizes safe?” Azazel stepped forwards, his whole body aflame with his dark reiatsu. Every other arrancar stepped away, just in case there was some over flow from the attack the figure would most assuredly utilise. The shadows moved slightly, and the place everyone assumed was a head twisted slightly, into a probable smile. Shadow blades shot up everywhere, threatening to cut each and every arrancar's throat.

“If I wanted to kill five espada today, I could do that myself without wasting a thousand of my followers. “ The door leading to the outer world, away from the figure's tower opened. His shadow blades retracted, leaving them free to leave. “Now please, get out of my sight.”

As the arrancar flooded out a slit opened in the floor, and three figures stepped in. two arrancar, both with their new tattoos of rank and fraction upon their faces. And one shinigami, his form shuffling and slow. “Arakhn, do you know what you are doing?”

The shinigami looked up, thick red lesions covered his face, and strips of white bone, the same stuff that made up a hollows mask, covered his face. He reached out a hand and the figure saw it coated in crumbling bone. “Yes I understand, but master, will you heal me, save me, when this is over?”

“You shall be freed from your torment my friend.” Arkahn smiled, the motion obviously painful and destructive to his features. The poor man was one of the figures early experiments, and he did not turn out as well as hoped. Unlike the others he was slowly hollowfying all the time, so while he gained the extra power permenantly he was slowly dieing. “Judas, Jacques, you two will notify the other espada when his work is done, and when it is done I shall know myself.”

“Mon pere, are you going to the real world as well?”

“Yes my son, I will go there, and probably take a visit to the dangai to, if I have time. I can't let my espada fall to easily.” Judas smiled, a slightly coy knowing smile.

“Are you sure you don't mean you can't let them fall without watching, and enjoying it?” The figure smiled, and for the first time white teeth shone out form the mass of shadows. The vision was creepy, and his smile did not emit humor, merely sickening lust to exterminate those he felt wronged him. “Thanks for your answer master.”

“Come Arkahn, I'll open a garganta for you now.”

Masato scoffed at the choices that his Captain offered him.

"You choose, Masato. Either stay in Soul Society and hold the fort or go to the real world and fight with the others."

It pained him to choose which one he wanted to do. Although he didn't want to strain himself with something that would exert more concentration and effort, he definitely didn't want to look like a douche in front of the others by taking the easy way out.

"What do you take me for, old man?" Masato said, although he clearly knew that the Captain Commander was as old as him if not younger. "Of course I'm gonna whoop some ass out there. And if that's all you really have to say, then I probably should prepare. When we get back, try and hold a celebration for me."

Just as he was about to turn and leave, Hychien grabbed him and turned him around. Masato tried to break free from the grip, but his captain had a strong hold of his arm. With his one free hand, the taichou reached into his robes and pulled out an armband with the first division insignia on the plating.

"Well, aren't you going to take it?" Hychien asked with a smile, knowing full well that even Masato was shocked at what was happening. "You've grown a lot since you joined my squad. I always knew that you were the right choice, but that foolhardiness of yours has got to go. You've got to take things more seriously. Stop holding back. That's exactly why this position of yours is temporary. You are hereby the Acting Vice-captain of the First Division of the Gotei 13. I'm sure that you know what that entails."

"Yeah, yeah. Responsibility over lives, etc etc, blah blah." Masato took the armband and fastened the badge across his arm. He grinned briefly before turning to leave once again only to be interrupted by the Captain Commander.

"Oh and don't worry. I've already informed everyone about this promotion. Just don't die out there."

Letting out a tch, Masato slammed the door shut and left to collect his zanpakutou from the barracks. Nothing was bothering him, not even the billions of hollows awaiting in the world of the living. The only thing that he was mesmerized in was his new rank.

Finally, he would be able to get some fame around these parts! The girls would be drooling over him. Despite it being an "acting" position for the time being, the brown-haired shinigami knew that he wouldn't let the rank slip from his hands so easily. He was nearly at the top of the heap now. For now though, he had to prove himself in order to keep this rank.

As he sheathed his zanpakutou in place, he was about to open the door to the masses of shinigami that were waiting patiently for their orders, but he stopped suddenly. The realization that he would be commanding a huge number of the Gotei's forces was putting a huge weight on his shoulders. He had no experience whatsoever with this kind of thing. Then again, as long as they listened to him, he would do just fine.

"Alright, listen up," he began after exiting the barracks and arriving at the area that was stationed for one of the First's personal Senkaimons. He gestured for the shinigami behind him to gather around and remain silent for the next couple of minutes.

"By now, all of you have realized why you've gathered here today. And I don't really wanna turn this into a corny speech or anything, but you guys better not die on me. We've got enemies out there. Hell, I think some of them might be even stronger than Hychien or Lucius but whatever. I'm not gonna be scared shitless at the face of death. I welcome it actually. Anyways, give it your all and follow your orders. Remember, if we all fall, we fall together as one army. One family. One Gotei," he shouted as a strong response came from the men and women that were armed for battle.

"After we get back, I'm gonna kill you, Hychien. Making me give a speech is enough, but a heartfelt one is something even more." Sighing, Masato passed through the portal to the real world along with the others behind him.

His group consisted of some shinigami from other squads which was a bonus. Among them were members of the healing and support division along with the kidou specialists. Some of Hisori's best were among Masato's squad as well which meant that they would have some of the finest tools at their disposal.

"Who knows what's gonna be waiting for us at the other side, but one thing is for sure. My plan is not going to fail. The strategy is simple. All of those who are good at kidou stay back and fire at the incoming masses. Any hollow that manages to break through the eleventh division members should be disposed of by you guys. Remember I prefer using hadou spells over bakudou. In this type of scenario, bakudou won't get you anywhere. This isn't a one on one battle. We're fighting against a thousand, and I'm pretty sure that we're outnumbered," Masato shouted, not even checking back to see that they were listening.

"Anyways, as I was saying, the first group will be the eleventh squad. They'll attack first and slice through as many hollows as they can before falling back in order to recover. Then, I want the next group to go up and vice versa. The order'll be the eleventh, then the first, the eight, the third, and then the twelfth. I want the healers to stay back for the purpose of healing those who fall back."

Having said that, Masato and the group passed through the portal and were dropped off at the middle of the street in the world of the living. The Gotei had set up a fake town so that the humans wouldn't get involved in any of this. This whole city was to their taking, and there was to be no holding back. The odd thing was that there was no one around...

He couldn't even sense a single reaitsu signature. There wasn't even a tiny gillian class hollow anywhere.

And then, it all happened so fast that he didn't even begin to comprehend what went wrong. A huge portion of the city was wiped out by a number of ceros. Street poles fell on top of cars, glass shards scattered everywhere, several of his shinigami were already wounded and engaging in battle. It was sheer chaos. Right then, he knew though that this wasn't about being cocky or overconfident. It was a matter of surviving and getting out of there with one's life. Through his own eyes, he knew that he was unprepared for this.

"I won't let you hurt my family. Go back where you came from." Before he could twirl around and locate the source of the voice, he was launched back. An arrancar sonidoed forward literally carrying him away from the battlefield. Some of the others turned towards the vice-captain in order to help out, but one disapproving stare from Masato was all it took for them to return back to their own fights.

"Well, what's the point of this all? I don't see why you couldn't talk to me in front of the others, eh?" Masato said, beaming a smile to his captor.

Yet, there was no response, and instead, a name was given.

"September Akarisu.. First fraction."

Number of posts : 248 Age : 33 Registration date : 2009-08-02

It was chaos, the shinigami sent to the real world could take the hollows, but the sheer number of adjuchas and even lowly arrancar was enough to turn the tide. Three squads with some complements from other squads was nowhere near enough for this scale of war, our strategists were grossly underestimating the arrancar. To Lucius's left one arrancar grabbed one of his low seated members, it's claws shining and glimmering in the pale light of the moon. In a flash the arrancar ripped the shinigami to shreds. Lucius Shunpoed behind the arrancar, and with precision only gained through years of battle experience, unleashed a blast of compressed air at the head in between his hands, crushing the arrancar's skull.

Three hollows flew towards Lucius, each one insignificant to him, far below the power of a captain. “Bakudo 12 fushibi.” The net of kido caught all three hollows, and several other arrancar behind them. “Persephone! A little bit of help please.” The young girl shunpoed down, next to Lucius, her hands grabbing the end of the kido net which remained in Lucius's hands. Together they channelled their energies, and released a burst of electrical kido. The current ran through the entire net, it's power transcendent and inescapable, the caught foes were destroyed instantly. The smoking carcases of the hollows fell away to dust s Lucius broke down his kido net, the smell of burnt flesh filling the air around him. “Nice work, but we've got to keep moving, this battle is far from won yet.”

As Lucius and Persephone ran through the hollows the cut through them, their burst of kido breaking through them, and turning the tide in every area they fought. “This can't be it, there must be some arrancar here who can fight on par with captains?” To Lucius's left he saw Sophia cutting through hordes of hollows by herself. She was a bloody mess, and she bathed in the gouts of life blood that sprayed out where ever she cut. Behind him he felt Zacharias destroying arrancar everywhere he went, the air grew turbulent around him, the raging cyclones ripping through hollows and battering arrancar. “If this is it, then we have won, we barely even need anyone but us three captains if this is the limit of their power. None of us, save Zacharias, have entered shikai yet, this surely can't be it.”

A scream of rage ran out of Sophia's mouth. It seemed she had found someone worthwhile, almost drawn in by Nosferatu's musings. Lucius twisted in midair to see a female arrancar with a long thin blade appear before Sophia. The arrancar moved with such speeds it was truly amazing, she was faster than even the captain commander. Her blade rang out against Sophia's claymore, the captain barely able to hold off against her. Zacharias noticed this at the same moment as Lucius, and moved to help her, but a massive arrancar, of tremendous stature sonidoed in front of him. His fat blade slashing down, barely blocked by Zacharias's wind blade. Both captains were being pushed back, and Lucius had no idea what to do, who to help. His decision was made for him, in an instant.

The long whip came arcing down towards his head, and Lucius only just managed to get out of the way. “Good reactions Lucius, as befitting a captain.” Spinning around as he dodged Lucius stared at his attacker. The arrancar stood just taller than himself, his head completely bald with a large seven engraved on his forehead. The seven was cut so deep Lucius could see the bone, and all around his face was a mat of scar tissue. He was a truly messed up individual. The remains of his mask took the form of two winding strips, coming down from the outer corner of each eye, down to each corner of his mouth. He was dressed in a mockery of the shinigami uniform, white instead of black, the outfit showing off the hole in the center of his chest.

“Hado 13 arrows of fire.” Lucius shunpoed over to the arrancar, eight bolts of flame shooting out, each one hissing in the air. The arrancar smiled at this instant attack, completely without hesitation and mercy. He drew his arm up, and brought the whip cracking upwards to catch Lucius, smacking away each arrow in thhe process. “Bakudo 45, punishing chains.” The winding chains of purple energy flew out from Lucius's arms and underneath the arrancar. One of the purple chains caught the whip, keeping it away, while the rest wrapped around arrancar. “Hado 59, lightnings nature.” The electrical current flowed down the chains of energy, electrocuting the arrancar, even as Persephone leapt into the air, her long blade sweeping down to cleave through the arrancar's skull.

“Nice try little girlie, but my masters fighting, and it's so exciting.” The black blade of energy that had intercepted Persephone's own was drawn upwards sharply, throwing the shinigami backwards, as the new arrancar presence stepped from behind his master. Emerelus Krudd, the jester of Hueco Mundo came forwards, his smile one born of arrogance. “Now you and me are gonna play, while Pain and Lucius have their say.” Emerelus sonidoed, catching Persephone in one hand, and dragged her across the sky away from this battle.

“Pain?” Lucius stared deep into the now opening eyes of the arrancar. “The Pain?” The arrancar began to laugh, his mouth opening up to reveal harsh shards of metal, obviously stuck in there unnaturally, all his original teeth removed. “The same Pain who killed my predecessor?” In a second the bonds around Pain were broken, and he was before Lucius, his own whip wrapped around the stunned captain before he could react.

“The very same, I killed the previous captain of squad 5, and I'll kill you.” The arrancar tightened his grip on the whip, aiming to shear the captains body in half. But there was no motion. Purple threads of kido became visible, each one holding a bit of the whip, and anchoring it in the sky so it could move no further. “When did you cast that?” Lucius's smile told the arrancar everything. He was not as fast as he thought he had been, and Lucius had seen the binding begin to break, felt it begin to break, and in that instant, just before that sonido, he had cast a new spell. “It seems your faster with kido than the previous squad 5 captain, but speed is not everything.” A wave of purplish fire smashed into Pain, sending him falling towards the ground. The attack had caught him completely of guard, and he had had no time to dodge it.

“It is everything, when the speed of my chanting is so fast you barely notice it.” Lucius had shunpoed beside the falling arrancar, his hand held against the beasts skull. “Hado 1 thrust.” The impact of the kido on the arrancar resounded through the air, drawing the attention of many combatants. The hollows watched dismayed as one of their leaders was thrown across the sky, terror filling their hearts as they watched him crash into the ground, creating a small crater. And the shinigami took the chance to attack, while their enemies were looking elsewhere.. “Is this all Hueco Mundo can muster?”

Pain shot out of the crater like a bullet, the rage in his eyes blazing like an inferno. His whip arced around, barely missing Lucius, but it did it's job. In Lucius moment of distress, he managed to get close, his knee rising to the captain's stomach, the blow sending Lucius reeling. “How dare you.” Pain grabbed Lucius's cape as the shinigami tried to get away, pulling him down sharply. Lucius's body was just below Pain's, the captain tried to twist around to face his foe, but Pain was too quick. The blow to his back sent him smashing downwards, his body slamming into the hard earth. Pain sonidoed down, his hand grasping Lucius's head. “I am espada 7, Pain, the master of reiatsu, you are nothing to me, so don't try to use your petty magic tricks, because your playing with the big boys now.”

“ Bakudo 9 geki.” The red light engulfed Pain, freezing him in place. Lucius staggered away from the paralysed form of the arrancar. His sudden assault took him completely by surprise, and Lucius was a fool for getting caught so easily. Blood dripped from his mouth, a huge wound was torn there, and he felt like he had broken every bone in his body. Pain looked almost as bad, it seemed the first few kido spells had taken their toll, and blood was dripping from his brow into his eyes. Lucius could see the binding begin to break, the red light fracturing under Pain's subtle attack on his kido spell. “ Hado 63, soren sokatsui.” The wave of purple fire smashed into pain straight on, knocking the arrancar back. “Suck them dry, Nosferatu.”

Pain landed on his feet, his body a mess of wounds, blood dripping from all his limbs, and from his forehead. If he didn't get medical attention soon, the blood would blind him to this fight. He stood, swaying a bit, to face the captain. Lashing out with his whip, he was surprised when Lucius caught it with a chain of his own.”Shikai?” Lucius smiled, and his lips moved at insane speeds, the words not even reaching Pains ears, but the kido spell did. Electrical energy bounded down his whip, and seared his insides. The same spell as before, and it worked just like before. His insides were getting cooked, and he knew this battle would be over soon if he didn't drastically change something. Pain ripped his whip away from the chain, the long metallic links of his whip cut his own hand slightly as it came back.

“I said I was the master of reiatsu, the one who can manipulate all forms of cero.” Lucius's eyebrows rose, questioning the statement. The idea of different forms of cero was strange to him, and even he had never heard of any variation on cero. “Gran.” Lucius held out his right hand, any variation on a cero from a being as strong as this arrancar could be lethal, and he didn't trust his powers to absorb the technique. “Rey.” Lucius began to chant, the words flying out of his mouth like bullets. “CERO!” The charging energy became spherical, and exploded outwards towards Lucius, it's speed greater than anything Lucius had seen before.

“Ensoken.” The purple shield grew and took form in front of Lucius. The shield of reiatsu taking the attack. “Weak.” A crack appeared in the shield, the fracture spreading over the shield, before exploding outwards, in a shower of shards. The cero continued it's path, and slammed into Lucius's right palm. Even though it was weakened by the shield, Lucius felt it's power, and knew how strong this attack must have been to begin with. “Impressive. I have never seen an attack of this strength, even I may struggle to match it.” The reiatsu from the cero was absorbed by Lucius, refuelling him, and empowering his body.

Everything slowed down for Pain, this shinigami, this captain, he was so much more than his predecessor. The old captain of squad 5 had been a tank of a man, but he was so slow, that Pain never got hit by a single kido attack. But this man, this one had the speed to catch him, and the strength to back up his attacks. As the captain shunpoed beside Pain, he made eye contact. In those eyes he saw nothing but hate, for everything this shinigami said, every slight attempt at a joke, through it all, the basic fact was that he hated him. And it was clear this shinigami did not hate Pain simply because he was his current enemy, he hated all hollows and arrancar. And this shinigami turned that hate into his power. He had to stop this shinigami, he was dangerous, too dangerous to the masters plans, to his plans.

Pains arm swung around to hit Lucius, but the injuries done to him already had slowed his movements, the cracked bones beneath his skin grinding against each other. Lucius disappeared, but Pain's senses were outstretched. He looked above, and Lucius was there, a ball of energy glowing in his palms. The fire blazed over both hands, but then disappeared, as if sucked into his right glove. Pain's mind flashed back to when his cero had been absorbed, even as the chains linked to each other. Laughing he just stood, there was nothing the boy could do now that he had absorbed his attack. His overconfidence in his analytical skills was to be his undoing. The purple blast struck Pain, slamming him down into the ground, the sheer pressure was splitting his skin, and burning the flesh where it was hit.

Lucius landed on a building, opposite where his attack had hit. The concrete was blown away, and there was a fresh crater in the ground. Lucius had used a new trick, he had absorbed his own kido attack to create stronger beam of energy. The attack was so much stronger than anything he had ever produced, and he doubted many beings could have taken it at that range. But this creature was not many beings. Through the dust Lucius saw a being stagger, and strained his senses. He almost heard something, and saw the whip crack down on the ground, but he missed the words, the sound lost to the air and battles above.

A wave of energy blew the dust away, completely. And Lucius was thrown back by it's power, the power of Pain releasing. Flipping backwards Lucius landed hard on his feet. The already incredible pain in his body shot up, he was sure something in his foot broke, or at least the amount of pain he felt said it did. “Lucius, it ends here, and now.” Pain stood before Lucius, tentacles had erupted over his body. The pink writhing masses had came from his back, and each one was as long as Lucius was tall. His lower half had become one long tail, like a snake, but his torso and head had remained intact. “Lets see if you can keep up.”

The arrancar came smashing down towards Lucius at immense speed, he was above him before he had even sensed it, or seen how. No one was fast enough for Lucius to not even sense the movement, even if he couldn't dodge it. “What are you?” He just managed to get out of the way, rolling as Pains fist came slamming down on the building. The was no explosion of masonry or metal, his hand simply slipped through the building, removing a section completely. It was like the section of building had simply been erased. “Dimensional movement? I've already seen through your powers.”

On the backs of Pain's hands there were shimmers of energy, a spatial disruption similar to a mini garganta. Lucius had figured it out, wherever those shimmers touched was transported to another dimension, and apparently Pain could move through the dimension instantly, hence his sudden disappearance from Lucius's senses. “There is no defence against my ability. It is absolute.” Pain appeared before Lucius, his tentacles whipping out to grasp the captain, each one tipped with a black head of power.

Bending over backwards Lucius just dodged the blows, each of the tentacles piercing the roof beneath them. His hands came outwards, just deflecting the wrists of Pain's, forcing the strikes from pain's deadly hands to either side of Lucius's head. “Yes it is absolute, and now I realise why you are called Pain.” Lucius fell into shadow, and pain fell through the weakened roof. Both of the combatants appearing on the lowest level of the building. “It hurts doesn't it? Having your outer flesh somewhere between dimensions, it burns, and you can't escape the pain.”

He was right, every time he spoke he was right. And Pain hated him for it. Even as his skin burned, his hatred burned more. But he knew he could win, if he could just endure the pain a bit longer he could beat Lucius, the captain was tired, he was slowing down, and his reiatsu levels were dieing out. “Been using too much kido, kiddo? You don't have the same stamina as your predecessor.” Lucius wasn't looking at the arrancar though, he didn't even register the being now.

“Your tired Lucius, you'll lose unless you do this.” Lucius was staring at something behind Pain, the woman cowering in the corner of the house. He had almost forgotten about the humans, their bodies and forms not even registering on Lucius's mind. But now he remembered, he saw them, and he felt sadness in the deepest part of his heart. “DO IT, DO IT NOW IF YOU WANT TO LIVE.” Could he do what was being asked of him? Could he bring himself to do the unforgivable, just to save his own life? “Do it for Persephone then, live to protect her, just don't die for no reason.” Screaming in rage, sadness, and guilt, Lucius swept his chains around. Missing Pain he wrapped them around the woman who cowered in the corner. “Your going to have to completely do it, no human soul has enough energy to feed you, you need her entirely, only then can you win.” Lucius knew this, and prayed for forgiveness.

Pain watched as Lucius caught a human, and he didn't stop him. He knew he should have, knew with every part of his soul he needed to stop him, but he was fascinated with it. The woman fell, her souls energies flickering and dying out. And Lucius's reiatsu grew, was being replenished. “Your going to have to kill her to fully replenish yourself. You need to break her body down and use every last part of energy, the energy that binds all her molecules.” And Lucius did, he sucked her down completely, every last bit of energy.

Tears streamed down his face as he did so, he hated himself, hated everything he had become, but he continued. The woman completely dispersed, every part of her becoming one with Lucius. “You have literally fed on a soul, you would make a wonderful hollow shinigami.” Pain's tentacles and tail lashed. He was tiring, but Lucius could tell his energy reserves were far higher than his naturally. “You know whats fascinating? Gran rey cero, the supposed ultimate cero, pales in comparison to this.” Dark energy coalesced in his hand, and at every tentacle tip the same energy formed.

Lucius swung his chains around, wrapping himself in their metal links. The dull metal becoming darker, turning black as night. The dark energy formed into a sphere before Pain, before condensing down into dense power. Lucius chanted, his lips moving faster then the eye could see. “ GRAN REY CERO!”

“ENSOKEN!!” The purple shield, denser than anything any other shinigami could even hope to produce was broken through instantly, the cero harnessing the dimensional powers of the arrancar. “BANKAI!” The transformation was instantaneous, the shadows taking him, absorbing him, he became a part of them. His reiatsu formed into two wings of darkness, chains hanging down from them. The cero smashed into his hands, and it's power diffused in, flowing into Lucius, overloading him. His muscles tensed, every filament burned, and in a second he was blown away. Even with the absorption of most of it's power the force of the cero was too much. Lucius smashed through the roof, his robes tearing as he went, and beams broke upon his back.

Skidding along the air Lucius grasped at the reishi that existed there. His shadowy hands were burning with the heat generated as he slipped through the air with such speed. Pain appeared behind him, his form shimmering into being from that other dimension. The arrancar caught him, the sudden stop winding Lucius. “Look boy, look at your friends.” Zacharias was facing a multitude of clones, each one of great strength, almost captain level themselves. He was in bankai, his golden eagle flying about, ripping heads of clones, only to have more form. Sophia was being beaten, the female arrancar was far too fast, and all she could do was make small dodges to protect her eyes. “Ugh, the pain is too much, I'll finish you quick.” Pain threw Lucius way, the shadow man flying across the sky drew the attention of many, but for some reason the other arrancar feared to try to attack him.

“Pain, before we end this.” Lucius flew to a halt, opposing his enemy, his bankai fluctuating slightly, like ripples in a pond. “Tell me everything about your master, if I must die I would want to know what soul society is up against.” Pain laughed, his voice cracking with pain, but still holding the malice within it.

“My master is a fool, barely a hollow, he won't kill humans. As soon as I sense a bit of weakness he shall die. Already number 1 and 4 will aid me in his death, numbers 10 and 6 the next most likely said they won't betray him, unless he actually turned on them. And 5 and 8 are his bitches. I don't know about the others, and don't want to test the waters.”

“So you'd betray your master at a moments notice.”

“Yes, he may have given me power, freed me from my pain, and given me a home. But I would betray him, even if the head fractions and some espada won't”

“If that's the way it is then lets end this here. Bakudo 57, mirror prison.” Clear glass held the arrancar, the beast trapped like a caged animal. But still he laughed, he quite clearly thought nothing of such bindings when he can just teleport away. “Hado 39, jumping fire.” The laughter ended, and the arrancar burned, every bit of fire that tried to escape was reflected back by the prison. Lucius held the power, the conflagration growing stronger, burning the enemy.

“Lucius, you know that won't work.” The Cero blew through the captain, it's dimensional powers completely destroying him. Pain had teleported behind Lucius, his surprise atttack ending everything. “I hate that it had to end this way.” Pain turned away as the tattered clothes of Lucius fell, there was nothing else of him there. No blood, no skin, no bone. “I guess I'd best save my fellows, it looks like they may lose.”

“They may lose, but you will certainly lose.” Pain was stunned, he couldn't comprehend it. His enemy had to be dead, but his reiatsu had reappeared, and moved as if in a shunpo behind him. He did not get it. How could this happen? Words slipped from his lip, and pain tried to sonido away, but it was too late, the black box caught him, and before he could escape he was caught. The spikes were thrust in and the arrancar was pierced completely. The box fell away, and the arrancar fell, his form resealed.

Lucius shunpoed down, catching him by his neck, holding him there. “You have failed me, and this is the end for all who betray me.”

“What? I don't.”

“Don't worry, unlike the other hollows I fight you have proven yourself before, I shall purify you, be grateful for this honour.” The captain wrapped his chains of shadow around Pain, completely covering the being. Lucius began to suck the energy, absorbing every part of the arrancar.

“How did you do this, tell me before I die?” The choking sounds of the arrancar were rough, he was dieing, even without Lucius's help. “How did you fool us, and beat me?”

“All I'll say is never trust your senses.” Pain's body began to break down, his moan of discomfort came, sounding through the chains, almost like a soft wind. “Everything you've seen, from the figure, from me, from my most trusted servants, is not really what you have seen.”

“What have we arrancar got ourselves into?”

“Lets put it this way. If I get my way humans will be safe forever.” He burst open, and all his molecules broke down. His power joined Lucius's, and in one burst, to release excess energy, Lucius let a blast of purple energy fly through the sky. Incinerating hollows and shinigami alike. A flare of energy burst through is skull, it was not painful, but it was a warning. “So it's done, well then.”

“Tenteikura.” Th symbols tattooed on his arms, under hsi clothing, became animated, each one lighting up, the symbols transcribed in the sky. “Azazel, Xena, head fraction, arrancar whom I trust. Open garganta to soul society, the way is open. Emerelus, leave my sister and go to Las noches, notify Jacques, and get the other espada to come.” The arrancar in the sky looked confused. They did not understand, a shinigami was giving them orders? Who was this. “ Call me Lucifer, Mammon, Asmodeus, Leviathan, Beelzebub, Satan, Belphegor, I may be all of these, but most importantly I am Lucius of squad 5, and I am your master. Now do as I say, the senkaimon will be closed so those few of you who I have trusted will be able to do as you wish without fear of captain interruption.”

The arrancar were confused, but they understood he was their master, and to defy him may bring ruin. But the idea of attacking soul society was also extremely tempting, it was time to go. “Persephone, come to me. We're going. I have a meeting to keep, and those in the dangai may not wait.” His sister appeared at his side as the garganta opened before him.

“LUCIUS.” Zacharias And Sophia were behind him, freed from their opponents they had hoped to rendevous with Lucius. “What is this? What are you doing?” The captain and his sister simply ran into the portal. Without hesitation the other two followed.

“The captains of squads 5, 6 and 11 have arrived in Tokyo Captain” Nyneave said staring sharply at the massive computer screen in front of where she sat. It covered the space of nearly a quarter of the wall and it was the device the 12th division used to monitor reatsu movements in the real told.

“Good, they have arrived. What of Merradin and Coulain ?” Konimatsu asked from where he sat in the center of the lab behind Nyneave. He sat on a chair from which he could over see everything that was going on and issue commands as necessary like a throne in the middle of a palace. The lab was his domain after all.

“They are at the garganta blockers as you commanded. Don’t worry sir, they will be taken care of, nothing will go wrong.”

“Pray it is so Nyneave, those garganta blockers are very important, they define who has the upper hand in the current situation.” Konimatsu said rising up, talking to himself more than he was to Nyneave. “I must go see the captain commander. Be ready for my return Nyneave, I will be back with a guest.” Turning Konimatsu made his way out of the squad 12 barracks, as soon as he was out he muttered “Bakudo san juu yon polymorph”. His out stretched arms began to flap and shrink into black wings and his legs seemed to shrink as well, but into the air. At the next moment a black crow hovered where Konimatsu had been standing and flew pointedly where Konimatsu had been facing, the squad 1 barracks. It may have been slower than shumpoing but it gave Konimatsu a birds eyes view, excuse the pun, of what was going on in seretei but above all it gave Konimatsu more time to consider and think things through. He had to be right about everything or disaster lay ahead.

As Konimatsu approached the squad 1 barracks he swooped down transforming in mid flight smoothly and landing into a foot step then the next in his human state. There was no use in revealing a skill just learnt to the entire world until it was absolutely necessary, he applied the same ideal to most of his inventions. Konimatsu went straight into the squad 1 barracks and as soon as they saw him the two guards guarding the ante room outside the captain commander’s office murmured “Good afternoon Captain Hisori”

“Kukukuku, child, it would have been a good morning if you had come over to the lab and let me find out why your zanpakuto responds to two release names, Zula”. Zula’s face paled and he awkwardly coughed as he opened the door for Hisori. Hisori couldn’t help but smile at the effect he had on people outside his own squad, it was marvelous.

“You are finally here! Good. What do you have to report to me?” Hychien asked from where he sat behind a massive desk full of paper and parchments and lot of other things Konimatsu would have loved to take a look at himself.

“Good news I suppose, commander. The dispatched squad captains have arrived in the real world as planned. Our scanners have detected the arrival of other large reatsu sources that are arrancar and captain level just as we had suspected.”

“Shit! I had hoped we were wrong and the espada would remain hidden. Better to get rid of them now I suppose.” Hychien murmured.

“There is an oddity however,” Konimatsu began, and Hychien raised his head an eye brow shooting up, “I only counted 3 massive arrancar reatsu that were captain and slightly above captain levels, the rest were close to captain and lieutenant level and of course several the hundreds of hollow level reatsu”

“Get to the point Konimatsu!" Hychien said impatiently. " If you only counted 3 then that’s a good thing, the others can take care of them and head back here faster than anticipated.”

“Yes,” Konimatsu broke in, “but if we want to defeat them we must now anticipate their next attack. Kukuku I am quite certain that they were unable to find a way to get around my garganta blocker.” A prideful glint shone in Konimatsu's eyes

“Yes yes you are smart we all know and so we have nothing to worry about” Hychien broke in impatiently, dismissively waving his hand.

“Yes we do child!” Konimatsu piped up, angry at having been interrupted. Hychiens eyes flashed in anger, everyone knew how he felt about his youth. “Forgive me my lord captain commander I go beyond myself, but there is still cause for worry. By now they must know that garganta won’t work. And I have my men taking care of the devices so they are well tended. BUT, there is still another way for them to get into soul society. The very same way that we ourselves travel; it is my suspicion that they will send a force through the dangai, I could reset my equipment to block that channel but that would just keep the other captains out of soul society therefore a dilemma.” Konimatsu finished, spreading his hands for emphasis.

“Hmm,” Hychien said, thinking to himself then smiling “well then, it’s a good thing we left the trump card for the last second.”

“I assume you mean yourself” Konimatsu asked the young captain and in response he just grinned wider. “I forget, you did start out in the 11th squad after all. Well I suggest we rustle up some others to come with us. Strong ones mind you, I don’t think they would just send a rag tag force if they plan on infiltrating Seretei itself. If only we knew what they were after ... If they don’t find out in the real world, we will just have to ask questions ourselves in the dangai.”

“I already have men on standby I can have the word sent out by hell butterfly and have them meet us in the dangai itself that way we can hurry and get there before the Arrancar do” Hychien added. Sticking out his finger for one of the hell butterflies that stayed in his office to perch ’A sharp mind, he had already planned for the worst’ Konimatsu thought to himself ’, shame he is still only a child kukukuku’ “Lucius is in the real world, we will have to find a 5th squad member to operate the kido and open the gate”

“Child, you forget in whose company you travel.” Konimatsu added rather insulted at having his prowess overlooked.

“I am your superior Hisori, don’t forget that” Hychien replied fiercely.

“I mean no harm, besides, why don’t you look at it this way. Instead of seeing it as a
reminder of your youthful age,” Hychien winced slightly at that, “look at it as a constant reminder for the rest of us older ones that we are commanded and led by someone younger and therefore someone so deserving of their title that their age is no longer a factor.” Hychien softened a little at that as he considered and digested what Konimatsu had just said.

“You’re a lot less eccentric today than usual,” Hychien commented “a refreshing change I think, keep it up.” Not knowing whether too take that as a compliment or not Konimatsu took the first step towards the door leaving Hychien behind to leave his instructions. There was no use in traveling to the grounds with the captain commander, not when his shumpo was faster, so Konimatsu took advantage of the head start and shumpoed straight away towards the senkai gate all the while hoping that he was right about what was going to happen next.

Not long after Konimatsu arrived, Hychien shumpoed in. Speaking at the same time Konimatsu said “What took you so long, I hate waiting” whilst Hychien said “Hope I didn’t make you wait too long” with a wry grin on his face. Once the senkai gate was open both captains stepped through into the dangai ... the severing world that lay between soul society and the real world. It was a cavernous purple tunnel with a few brittle bones on the floor. Nothing lived in the severing world, except the cleaner and the cleaner usually left nothing alive. Darkness seemed to swallow the path a few paces ahead, and as the senkai gate close another long stretch that faded into nothingness was visible behind them.

“You better be right about this” Hychien said. And almost as though his words had been a secret password several shredding sounds came out all around them from sudden rips in the air where garganta were opening. Arrancar stepped out in 2’s and 3’s out of 4 garganta and one pair stood together radiating a devastating amount of reatsu collectively.

“See I told you so …” Konimatsu whispered to Hychien, who had his eye fixed on one of the two strong ones. He was clearly calculating who the stronger of the two was and by the way they were both looking at Konimastu and Hychien, like rabid dogs eyeing other dogs they didn’t particularly like, they too were doing the exact same thing. At that moment the senkai gate opened up behind Konimatsu and Hychien and a stream of about 10 shinigami ran through, all of whom felt strong enough to face the arrancar the 2, who could only be espada, had brought with them.

“We only need atleast 1 of them alive, to open the senkai gate once more of course. The man in the shadows said he would make the senkai gates open but just in case. Show no mercy, do not let the man in the shadows down” one of the 2 espada commanded lithely smiling at the shinigami. The arrancar shouted in cheer and as they charged some of them sonidoing to the shinigami they had already singled out. There were 8 arrancar in total not counting the 2 espada, the numbers were in the shinigami's favor. As the battles began to spread out and move away the remaining 4 beastly opponents stared at each other weighing reiatsus and strengths before any made a move.

"Espada 4 Jiruga Gunderstank yoroshikun" Said the espada who had earlier issued the commands. He was staring straight at Konimatsu as he introduced himself. He was tall, a full head taller than Konimatsu, with close cropped blue hair. His eyes were green, his face long and his mask fragment looked like a soul patch that ran down in a straight line then branched out surrounding his neck like a brace.

"I see, kukkukuku. You think i will be the easier target Kukukukuku, well you may be right at that, the wolf beside me is rabid. Squad 12 captain Konimatsu Hisori."

"Am I really that transparent? Well, tell your wolf to be weary of this mammoth i have been shackled to" Jiruga replied, chucking to himself oily.

"After all that cackling," Hychien said, not taking his eyes off his opponent" I take back what i said about you not being eccentric"

Jiruga ignored Hychiens input and simply said "Shall we?" gesturing with a swing of his lanky arms

"Lets" Konimatsu agreed aslo making a point not to reply Hychiens comment.
He was glad as he shumpoed away from Hychien and his opponent, that fight would likely shake some walls. And Konimatsu had no desire to be at the site of a cave in.

"What was that?" Masato asked.

"I'll repeat myself. September Akarisu.. First Fraction," the arrancar replied. "I told you, didn't I? Either tell your friends to surrender, or else, you'll all die. It's your choice, really. But I'm pretty sure that we both know where this might be headed if you don't choose to comply."

The fact that Masato was facing one of the First Espada's fractions didn't even faze him. In fact, the only thing that September managed to do was motivate the new lieutenant to fight all out. If this arrancar could truly end him, then he wouldn't mind at all. It only meant that he wasn't ready to fill in the shoes of a vice-captain.

"Now why would I do that when I could just kill you and be done with this?" Masato said calmly.

"Arrogant are we? I'll let you know that that's the very reason why some of the potentially strong shinigami died young. I've met many shinigami before you who carried the same cocky attitude, but look where it got them. They're all dead. Their blood is stained on the ground, and they've all been washed away with time. None of their names will be remembered in the history books."

"History books my ass! How can you, a stranger, compare me with other shinigami? I'm going to say this once and only once. I'm not like others."

"Is that so? If you're not like others, then why do you carry that zanpakutou in that sheathe of yours? Why do you wear the robes that signify you belonging to an army? Why are you prejudice towards us, arrancar and hollow-alike? We're not all the same. For example, I'm not bloodthirsty. I don't enjoy killing or fighting for that matter, but if my family is involved, then I'll sure as hell raise my sword for them. You're ignorant. You know nothing. You're just another faceless shinigami who speaks words but doesn't realize what they actually mean."

"Don't bring in philosophy into this. I'm not like others because I don't act like them. I don't follow all of the orders I'm given. I'm not into the whole justice crap and protecting the innocent. I don't even want a future filled with happiness and peace for everyone. That's all bullshit.

Do you want to know why I do this? Why I cleanse hollows with the tip of my blade..? Why I wear this robe!?"

There was a pause here before Masato said, "It's because I, unlike others, want my little sister to live a happy life. Back at Soul Society, I suffered a few years of living in a place that shouldn't even be considered a home! My sister... she looks eight years old for gods sake! And she's blind! I tried searching for doctors to help cure her back in Rukongai, but it was no good!!!

So yes, that is why I carry this sword. It is because you bastards did this to her in my past life when I was human. You were the ones who caused this! You killed my family and left me with a blind girl who could have enjoyed having to see things with her own eyes! And no, don't think that this is some crap like revenge. Far from it.

I'm just giving back my sister what she was cheated on. And that my friend is a life where there are no hollows. To do that, I couldn't just remain a regular old Rukongai citizen. Nah, I had to join up with the ranks of the Gotei."

For a split second, he felt September's shame. He actually felt the arrancar writhing in agony for what others had done to Masato's little sister.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Bleh, I don't need your damn sympathy. Let's get this over and done with. I'm feeling up for some sake and boobs once this is over and done with." With that said, Masato slipped free from September's grip on him and then jumped back. After landing lightly on his feet, he stood there for a few more seconds, watching the arrancar closely. "I'll tell you firsthand that I don't have bankai, but I'm sure as hell that my shikai can outmatch your release. Ehh, scratch that. We'll find out for ourselves. Just don't hold back, or else, I'll slaughter you."

"Listen to me, shinigami! I'm sorry for what my hollow brethren have done to you. We're not all the same as you can see."

"Will you just shut up already!? I told you, didn't I? I don't care. Nothing you can say can prevent me from fighting you."

"You don't seem to-" Before the fraction could finish his words, Masato burst into a strong shunpo, kicking up a huge amount of spiritual pressure around them as he did so. He intentionally let his reiatsu flare so that he could intimidate his opponent, who, from his assumption, had far less spiritual pressure at his disposal.

"Now why the hell did fate have to give me him as an opponent? For all I care, I should be up against an Espada!" Masato thought with a scowl. As he tried to slice down on his opponent's shoulder blade, his zanpakutou instead found purchase on the arrancar's right hand which had a good grip on it. The lieutenant tried to free his katana, but the arrancar was not going to yield even though blood was flowing down his fingers. Instead, Masato found himself being knocked back, unarmed. His zanpakutou was thrown aside as September seemed to be lost in his own train of thought. Again, Masato tried the same tactic. He wanted to end this while this strange arrancar was distracted with his own thoughts, but as his blade was halfway near meeting flesh, he was launched back. This time he collided against a huge piece of stone. His head started to throb, and an excruciating pain ran up his spine. The arrancar continued to linger in his own thoughts, not even paying attention to the shinigami. It was almost as if September was trained for close quarters combat and expected every move before it even came.

"Is that his power? Can he read minds? Nah, that's stupid!" This time he shunpoed behind September and tried to bring the arrancar down. Each and every attempt brought only failure. It was to the extent where physical attacks close-up almost seemed impossible with this opponent.

"If you're done, then I'm going to offer you one more chance. Surrender and tell your comrades to do the same. They can leave with their lives if they do so," September offered, but the offer was worth nothing to Masato.

"We came here in order to get rid of you guys, knowing full well that we might not make it out of this. And you think that we're just going to back out just because we're afraid of death. Think again," Masato reproached. At this rate, he would have to release far sooner than his opponent which meant that he was at a disadvantage. His reiatsu control wasn't exactly top notch which meant that his shikai would not be able to last too long.

"You're getting desperate, aren't you?" September said with a smirk on his face as he advanced towards the shinigami. The more closer that the arrancar got, the farther Masato was stepping back. However, this wasn't like him. It was as if his body had been shook up so much that he had lost control of his movements. His body refused to respond to the commands from his nerves. "Like a scene from a horror film, don't you think?"

Tripping over some rocks, Masato fell flat on his back, and he watched on as September slowly approached him with that same gaze that he couldn't even begin to describe. That gaze.. It held one of remorse. This arrancar longed for something, but what? Power. No, that couldn't be it. If it were power, then it would completely contradict everything that he had said so far. Was it freedom? Was that it?

"I really do despise killing, but someone like you is only a thorn in my master's plan." September held out his right hand, and it began to emit a strange glow.

"Our insurrection is almost complete! The man in the shadow's plan has almost come to fruition! Finally, we can create this world anew!" September's face looked contorted now, almost as if he was mesmerized in this so called future that his master would bring.

"And tell me.. where is this master of yours? Is he here in the world of the living?" Masato said.

"That's classified information, but I will tell you this before your time is up. He's not one of us arrancars."

"What the-" But then Masato smirked. "Well, I'm assuming that he's not here. He's letting all of his pawns fight for him. Like the coward he is."

September gritted his teeth. There was an explosion, and the surrounding area around the two was filled with smoke. Once it subsided, there was nothing left of the shinigami on the ground. Instead, there was a huge crater, and bits and pieces of his robes. September gazed down at the ground and then clasped his hands together. Ironically, he was praying for Masato to have a safe voyage in the reincarnation process.

"How weird can this guy get?" a voice said causing the arrancar to turn around. "Ah crap! Guess my little surprise attack won't work anymore."

"How did you survive that!? I attacked you from point blank rage! That's imposible!"

"My zanpakutou saved me. All I needed were three words. Suigestu no Senrei. That is my shikai release, and what it does.. Well, you'll just find out."

"His power.. He can levitate things!? What kind of power is this though!? I've heard rumors about him from Nameless and Lord Zetta. Was he that shinigami that encountered them? This can't be though," September thought, shaking his head in denial. He would be distracted if he thought about it any longer.

For the next minute or so, debris and rocks rained down on him. The fight dragged on, and the shinigami had completely turned the tables on him. It was a game of hide and seek now. The fraction continued to sonido every which way while various things were thrown at him. A car missed him by barely a second. It was pure chaos now as Masato levitated various objects around him. What the arrancar hadn't realized though was that he was slowly being lured into a trap. All of the escape routes were now barricaded with piled up cars, street poles, and debris. September, who discovered this at the last second, was still remaining calm. Instead of complaining or a look of horror, there was actually a smile on his face.

"You think you've got me trapped, huh? Aren't you forgetting about something? That power of yours is truly amusing and very godly as some of my comrades have told me, but you certainly cannot control it for too long. I can already tell that you're almost at your limits. That's why I intentionally let you think that you would have me defeated by releasing your shikai. It's just too bad that I haven't revealed my true power yet," September explained as he spread his arms apart. "Sapphire Phoenix!"

There was a strong fluctuation of reiatsu, and suddenly, the strange arrancar's arms started to rotate rapidly like a drill. No, not like a drill. This demon's resurrection was a drill. To be more precise, it was a pressurized drill with what seemed to be water around it. As spirit particles clustered around the drills, Masato wasted no time in going on the offensive while he still could. He raised three large pedestals from the ground and attempted to make them slam into his opponent, but they were literally torn into shreds by the drill. While this took place, Masato jumped in for the killing blow, praying that he could drive his katana all the way through the arrancar's chest. His body started to give up on him though at this point, and his blade only managed to tear the white fabric that September wore.

Something sharp started to dig into his flesh. He felt his reiatsu being drained from him while his opponent's was growing exponentially.

"I didn't want to have to end it this way... with all of the gore and the blood," September began as Masato bended the gravity around the area with what energy he had left in his reserves.

"Who... said anything about it ending..?" Masato laughed suddenly. "Sorry sis. Looks like I couldn't have been a good brother. And Hychien, heh. You're real lucky. I could have become Soutaichou."

September winced, thinking that the boy had completely lost it. And while his guard was down, all of the rubble and debris around them came crashing down on them.

"If I die, I'll at least bury you alive with me!"

Jiruga followed Konimatsu, keeping up with his shumpo. His lips curved into a smile that spoke volumes and held a thousand questions behind it.

Konimatsu stopped and turned to face Jiruga who stopped as promptly as Konimatsu had himself. “Do you have something you want to say to me, Jiruga?” Konimatsu asked curtly, he did not particularly like this arrancar for some reason.

Taken aback slightly Jiruga widened his eyes then spoke, clearly changing what he had been about to say. “You speak to me with such familiarity; my name is too comfortable on your tongue for my liking. The way it rolls of it speaks of use ... did an arrancar betray my name to you under your scalpel?” His curiosity plainly genuine.

“I see you know what the 12th squad means and you could say that I had some inside information about you espada before coming here. It is my job to as the research and development captain to know as much as I can after all” Konimatsu smiled to himself, a brief curve of his lips.

“Yes I know I know what the 12th squad means, just as you probably know what fraction 4 means” Jiruga said drawing his azure hilted sword. “My move or yours”

“Kukukuku” Konimatsu responded crouching into an attacking stance. “I think I would like to go first.”

“That’s a shame” the arrancar replied and he sonidoed forward slashing horizontally. He used his height and lankiness to his advantage by maintaining a gap between himself and Konimatsu. The attack had been direct and easy enough for Konimatsu to dodge. Konimatsu now in a crouch stuffed his hands into his pocket and leapt backwards, creating a larger gap between him and his opponent.

“Child you are even less skilled than you look. You attacking style is too direct to be taken seriously by one of my calibre. Come back and fight me in a hundred more years when you are more of a challenge kukukuku.” Konimatsu taunted.

“Tch, do you plan on fighting me with your hands in your pockets?” Jiruga questioned, a tone of suspicion in his voice.

“Well I can hardly go all out on a child such as yourself. I figured a handicap would make this fight fairer.” Konimatsu finished, giving his opponent a flash of his pearly whites.

“Insolent.” Jiruga replied exasperatedly before sonidoing forward his sword drawn and ready for an attack. Slash, Slash, Slash, Slash. With each slash he took a step forward, and with each slash Konimatsu took a step back.“From the way his muscles are contracting and retracting he is holding back. Its not blatantly obvious but it is there, probably testing how good I am … but then again, isn’t that always the case? Tch” Dodging another wild slash Konimatsu found himself in a crouch again, a sword and arm long distance between him and Jiruga. Mustering up all his leg muscles, Konimatsu got to his feet in a flash and took a step to cover the distance, attempting to use his opponents height against him. He pulled his right hand out from his pockets, already clenched into a fist and attempted a jab at his opponents face. Reacting quickly Jiruga leaned to the side and the fist brushed right past him missing his face by centimetres, Konimatsu felt his fist brush against some of Jirugas blue hair and permitted himself a smile.

Jiruga leapt back, then soniedoed back further before he sneezed into cupped hands. His eyes widened as soon as he realised what he had just done and he looked up at Konimatsu. Konimatsu just stared back dusting his hand right hand which what very pale. White-ish powder fell to the floor with every brush. “What is that?” Jiruga asked his eyes focused on Konimatsu's right hand.

“Flour” Konimatsu replied slyly, “I find it makes it easier to grip things. Kukukuku, nothing to worry yourself over”

Jirugas face darkened at Konimatsu’s obvious lie, sniffling slightly he gripped the hilt of his blade harder. “If you think you can poison me, think again. My body is accustomed to various typed of poisons whatever you put in me won’t last very long”

‘Its not programmed to’ Konimatsu thought to himself. The satisfaction of knowing something his opponent did not always put him in a jolly mood, but this time it did. Jiruga sonidoed again and Konimatsu quickly sank into his trademark cat crossing the courtyard stance. He favoured it because it maximized alertness and reaction potential. This time Jiruga came out behind Konimatsu, slashing where Konimatsu had been just a few seconds earlier but Konimatsu had shumpoed out of the way when he saw Jiruga’s movements. Jiruga sonidoed following Konimatsu, who jerked to the side, avoiding the slash Jiruga was attempting before Shumpoing away again.

“This is getting us nowhere.” Jiruga commented. “Seriously, this cat and mouse thing … what exactly are you waiting for.”

“Well, simply put I’m waiting to see when you have hidden in your pockets.” Konimatsu replied truthfully. “There is no way you are here without anything, people like us always go into unknown battles with at least one of our favourite toys, it’s a common trait we all share and a known fact"

“Tch, quit stalling the inevitable” Jiruga replied as he sonidoed again, appearing behind Konimatsu. Konimatsu spun on the balls of his feet and leapt back, maintaining his stance. As he spun, Konimatsu saw that the spot where Jiruga had been was empty, the buzz sound came after that and in the next moment Jiruga was behind Konimatsu. Through his peripheral vision Konimatsu saw Jiruga slash horizontally once more attempting to behead Konimatsu. Dropping low into a crouch again, Konimatsu barely dodged the slash, a few wisps of his blond hair being cut clean by his opponent’s blade.

“You’re so predictable” Jiruga said, as He kneed Konimatsu sharply in the back. Biting off a curse, Konimatsu attempted to sweep Jiruga and trip him, but Jiruga leapt backward retreating. “Now will you take this more seriously?” He asked, a mocking smile on his lips.

“If you didn’t want to share your toys, you should have just said so in the beginning” Konimatsu replied stretching his hand over his back to trying to caress the spot where he had been very rudely kneed. “Fine,” Konimatsu replied, placing a hand on his own hilt and loosening it from its scabbard “If that is what you want.” He shumpoed, straight at his opponent pulling out lanfear in mid shumpo. His blade landed on Jirugas and they pushed, testing each others, physical strengths, Konimatsu seemed to be applying more force but only slightly.

Feinting to the side Konimatsu broke off from the lock and launched straight into cat dances on the wall attacking with a series of feints, short slashes, thrusts, and parries. His opponent recoiled, somehow managing to deflect every attack with quick and fancy wrist movements. Seeing the fruitlessness of his attacks Konimatsu shumpoed behind Jiruga, and launched into the Bundling straw attack. Jiruga, spun around, putting both his height and reflexes to good use and blocking the thrust to the heart Konimatsu had just attempted. Konimatsu followed up his foiled thrust with an arc, which Jiruga deflected with an arc of his own. Both recoiled from each other and stood with their swords in guard positions. Konimatsu took a deep breath, sighing at all the fruitless effort he had just exerted; Jiruga himself looked slightly out of breath. It was all he could do to block and deflect that melee of attacks.

“I suppose I could give you a sneak peek” Jiruga said, in between long drawn out pants. Konimatsu leapt back, not really sure what to expect. He had certainly not expected a proclamation.

Jiruga dug up something from his pocket and flicked it into the air with his thumb. It spun and made a wide arc , glinting silver. In the middle of its descent it froze in mid air, a yellow electrical charge ran across it and suddenly another Jiruga shimmered into existence. A perfect copy of the original one in every way, even holding an azure hilted sword. The espada looked at each other then sonidoed towards Konimatsu simultaneously, each coming straight at him slashing horizontally, one from the left the other from the right. Konimatsu held out Lanfear to at least block their attack. One Jiruga, he could match strengths with, but 2 would see his demise especially when coordinated. Konimatsu and one of the Jirugas’ swords met with a sharp clang, the other Jiruga’s sword shimmered right through Konimatsu’s sword and virtually cut Konimatsu in half.

Konimatsu’s eyes had initially widened in shock as he had feared for his own demise, but he began to chuckle, and oddly enough Jiruga joined him. They both broke and leapt back, Konimatsu stood facing the 2 Jirugas, his eyes on the real one. “A hologram, very clever kukuku. Nearly scared me half to death. Of course, now I know which one of you is the real one and since I’m not very impressed I think its time you died don’t you?”

“Letting you figure it out is just part of the game” Jiruga said fishing out 7 more silver coins which he tossed into the air. Konimatsu’s eyes widened as he now faced a total of 9 Jiruga’s, he still maintained his focus on the real one, but the others were going to be a pain. BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ. All the Jirugas began to sonido back and forth left and right, Konimatsu could no longer tell which one was real and which one wasn’t. “I had no idea, they could make sounds as well,” Konimatsu added, a smile on his face. He looked down and noticed that they all had shadows and they somehow seemed to reflect Jiruga's reatsu, “Such detail, I commend you” Konimatsu said, tilting his head a fraction in praise of his opponent.

“Thank you” replied all 9 Jirugas, not all of them at once creating an awkward echo. 4 of them raised their hands and red energy beams began to form on their hands, 'cero!'. The other 5 leapt at Konimatsu, swords drawn ready to attack. Not knowing where the real one was, Konimatsu shumpoed fleeing the 5 chasing him with swords. One cero shot where he had been standing a few moments earlier, but it had only been a hologram. Another two flew out and actually hit him on the chest, but those had been holograms as well. 3 of the attacker Jirugas sonidoed in front of Konimatsu and slashed all unison, at the same time, the last cero flew towards him.

Drops of blood dripped to the floor as Konimatsu leapt back. The bastard had been one of the attackers. Konimatsu nursed a slash across his chest and cursed as he leapt backwards even further. The real Jiruga stared at his blade for a moment and an instant later, all the Jirugas had bloody swords. All the other Jirugas looked at their bloody swords as well and began to laugh. Buzz, Buzz, Buzz, was the sound that reverberated on the walls as they sonidoed around, hiding the real one. “You are as good as dead” said all the Jirugas at once, a brad smile on oll their faces. Suddenly one of them, in the middle of the jumble began to cough, he spluttered and Konimatsu felt the reatsu levels from all the Jirugas drop.

“So much for ‘my body is immune to most poisons’ this one works by eating 20 percent of my opponents initial reatsu levels all in one go” Konimatsu said mockingly with a smile on his face. "Your body didn’t even know they were there until, well ... now. Kukukukuku." Jiruga, shot him a look of contempt, and then smiled.

“It won’t work on me again however; my body is especially capable of building immunities quickly. If you have any more of that power, you might as well throw it away.”

“That hardly matters,” Konimatsu replied blatantly “It’s programmed to affect a host only once. That was the only way I could ensure that I and all the other squad 12 members who used it were completely immune to its effects. Besides, you are going to die here today anyway, what do immunities matter to me? Jiruga.” The real Jiruga began to laugh, and all 9 took up his mirth.

“So far,” Jiruga began, pausing to giggle some more “you haven’t been doing very well.”

“Well, I have seen all I need to see, and trust me you pathetic tactics won’t work on me again. I will do this formally, just for you. Some no getsuei (first lunar phase).” Konimatsu began his reatsu pulsing and growing. “Uwadzutsumi Lanfear (Cover, daughter of the night)” As soon as the words were out of his mouth his Zanpakutou turned pitch black and melted backward and the blackness began to consume his left hand spreading across his arm to his chest. His shadow darkened and began to consume his body from the legs up. The surrounding shadows seemed to stretch and join with his own shadow darkening as it and feeding it until his whole body save his head was covered in a tight close fitting pitch black body suit and there was a pool of darkness swirling beneath his feat.

“Very interesting,” all the Jirugas commented turning to each other in conversation, even finishing each other’s sentences. “We might have to take him back alive”. “Yes I agree,”, “we simply must”. “If his abilities are similar to the man in the shadows,”, “we might succeed in taking him down.” “What are you muttering to yourself about?” One of the Jirugas piped up staring straight at Konimatsu. The others raised their heads just as Konimatsu finished his chant.

Slapping his hand hard onto the ground Konimatsu shouted “Destructive spell 9 Gaia’s awakening.” The ground shook with large tremors and shards of earth flew everywhere. The real Jiruga fell over and barely managing to dodge a shard of earth that flew at him. The other Jirugas where not phased or moved at all, and didnt seem to respond to the spell. 'Just as i suspected' Konimatsu thought to himself as he sent a stream of his pool pool of darkness straight at Jiruga (Shikamaru style) as he was getting up. At the base of Jiruga's feet it gathered and rose up into the air solidifying into a sharp spiked aimed straight for his chin. Jiruga lept back dodging the attack perfectly, as the spike drove into the ceiling making a hole. Konimatsu let it liquefy and return to him, a smile on his face.

“How did you like that Kage Gigai attack of mine?” Konimatsu asked a note of satisfaction in his voice.

"If that’s what you are going to use to try and protect yourself from my clones then you are dumber than you look." Buzz Buzz Buzz Buzz, the Jirugas shifted, making identification all but impossible again. 4 charged forward and 5 stayed back, charging up ceros, the same tactic as last time. Konimatsu shumpoed avoiding one of the attackers with visible effort, when he landed he began chanting, a flash of red flew and hit him on his head but it was just a hologram. Sighing loudly in relief he continued to shumpo dodging the attackers and chanting. Stopping suddenly he swung his arm and cried out “Bakudo 4 Hainawa”. A lightning shaped yellow rope flew and latched onto one of the attackers and held him in place. The others ran right through Konimatsu and 4 ceros shot at the same time, all of them holograms and all meant to make him waver and miss as he cast his spell.

Wide-eyed Jiruga mumbled, “How? T-this is impossible, the odds are too unfavourable for you to just guess”.

“You are right, i only had an 11.1 percent chance of guessing right but i didnt guess, i knew. You should be more careful with your shadows next time, its not wise to expose it to people who manipulate such things, if it was me, i would guard my shadow rather selfishly against someone like me but hey thats just me, dont take my advice. And rather than spending your time wisely working your way out of the binding spell you splutter stupid questions at me and stare wide eyed listening carefully for the answer?” Konimatsu asked, before commencing into another chant “Carriage of Thunder. Bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six! Binding spell 61 Rikujokoro!” Jiruga, who had began struggling at his bonds as soon as Konimatsu had pointed out his stupidity, widened his eyes even further as the rope holding him transformed into 6 rods of light that held him in place more rigidly than the first spell. The other Jirugas began to shout and make noise, cast ceros and sonido about trying to distract Konimatsu, but he had already caught his prey.

“The cost is great, but I want to get rid of you once and for all.” Konimatsu said, leaping back till he was a fair distance away from Jiruga he started another chant. Jiruga’s eyes widened even further, as though they were going to pop out of his head as he sensed the reatsu Konimatsu was gathering. Holding his right palm up and using his left to support and balance it Konimatsu spluttered “Destructive spell 88 Hiryugekizokushintenraiho” thin blue wisps of lightning blew out at first followed by a massive Blue energy burst larger in height and width than Konimatsu himself. The wind it created flapped Konimatsu's haori back as the blast flew straight at Jiruga. Upon impact the 6 rods of light that held him shattered and there was a massive explosion, the walls themselves rumbled and fire roared out in all directions from the blast.

Konimatsu raised his hand to shield himself from the light and the heat, panting from the effort he had exerted he watched for the smoke to settle and reveal his opponent. He had used a fair bit of reatsu in that last medley of attacks, he wasn’t out yet but he couldn’t keep this fight up too long. He was surprised to see that the holograms had vanished, and he suspected it had something to do with the electrical discharge of the spell. As the smoke began to clear up Jiruga lay on the floor forcing himself up and then crumpling back down. His white clothes were a tattered mess and there was a heavy smell of burned and charcoaled flesh.

“Damn it! Damn it Damn it DAMN IT!” He roared staggering to his feet.

“You are a lot more troublesome than I had though you would be” Konimatsu responded staring at his opponent

“You’ll suffer for this. I won’t even bother taking you alive, to hell with finding out who sold my name out to you and to hell with the great lord of the dark and his demise, you I will enjoy killing the most! I will cut you open and dissect you. Ill keep you alive that long at least so you can feel every epithelial cell get sliced in half! Strike Arachopida!” The espada’s reatsu gathered and 5 white tentacles shot out from his back (like luppi, the temporary espada 6 in the show). They were long and sectioned. Nothing about his humanoid appearance changed though, except his neck brace extended to cover his chest as well.

Using 2 of his tentacles to walk, probably because his own two feet hurt too much to use he sent the remaining 3 straight at Konimatsu. Reacting quickly, Konimatsu tossed his hands about as if weaving or directing something and the pool of darkness that swirled around him shot out in 3 jets solidifying in mid flight and meeting the 3 tentacles. They pushed at each other in mid air, Konimatsu’s “tentacles” and Jiruga’s, but Jiruga’s seemed to hold more force.

"Kuroi Kage Kuitsikuse” Konimatsu mumbled, as his tentacles began to swallow Jirugas’ almost covering the first section.

“I had a feeling you could do that” Jiruga said, as the first sections of his tentacles, which were half consumed, clipped off. As they fell to the ground they rocketed in mid air, flying straight towards Konimatsu.

“Shit!” Konimatsu cursed before weaving his hands again. A column of shadow rose and solidified forming a barrier between him and the torpedo. It was smashed by one of the large bullets. Another column formed behind the first as it crumbled and was broken down as well, but it broke the trajectory of the missile that had smashed into, and that one veered off the left. Konimatsu, with his bottom half no longer coated in his armour as he had used it to make the columns muttered “Bakudo 39 Enkosen” A kido shield formed in front of him. It fractured when the Bullets collided with it and shattered when they burst in 2 brilliant red flashes. Sending Konimatsu hurdling backwards tumbling on the ground before he can to a stop.

“Pocket cero’s” Jiruga smiled. Konimatsu staggered up wincing at his scorched haori and his burned left arm.

"Im not going to let you get off that easy" Jiruga spat. "RECONSTRUCTION"

3 of his tentacles detached and reformed at the base of his back coalescing together and forming a scorpions tail with a sting on it. The Sting began to pulse and glow and Konimatsu could feel it drawing energy. With little time to think Konimatsu leapt back, his lips moving in violent twitches. A massive blue black cero shot from his sting flying towards Konimatsu just as Konimatsu shouted "Destructive spell 77 Solaris's apocalypse!"
The blue black spell crashed into the wave of solar energy creating a brilliant light show. The Blue black beam was swallowed by the kido spell, which went on to hit Jiruga.

The force of the spell flung Jiruga backwards, but he managed to get up a few moments later, the rag he wore now smoking as though they had been set on fire and had only just been doused. Jiruga blinked several time, probably from the purplish light haze the spell left on those it was cast on. Konimatsu's eye brows lifted slightly when he saw that Jiruga's sting was glowing bright yellow.

"My spell had to struggle for a while to get past your cero, and thus was effectively weakened but still what was left of the spell should have done more damage than it did" Konimatsu commented questioning Jiruga.

"Well maybe you are just not as strong as you think you are" Jiruga replied, rubbing at his eyes as his vision slowly returned. His sting transformed back into 3 tentacles.

"Kukuku I see ... Judging by the strength of your cero, you used all the energy in one of those tail thingies of yours.kukukuku you absorbed it you fuel yourself and lower its strength didn't you. I have to be more careful with that tail of yours. Actually no, I think I’m going to be ending this now. I have certainly spent more time on you than i had originally planned, and i certainly cannot kill you quickly in shikai … I have only ever had to release this twice in battle, so be very honoured child. Your insolence and you betrayal is your downfall.” Jiruga’s eyes widened at that proclamation

“Its you isn’t it, you bloody git. I will kill you with more vehemence now, I will grind-”

Konimatsu cut him off sharply “BAN-KAI getsuei no bouseki lanfear” (moon spinning daughter of the night)

The entire area grew darker and Konimatsu let the darkness envelop him completely head, shoulders, knees and toes. Jiruga’s gasped at the vast stretch of darkness Konimatsu now had under his control. Jiruga shot 3 more of his missiles, but Konimatsu did not even bother deterring them.

“Kage Suiei” Konimatsu said as he melted into his pool of darkness, effectively dodging the missiles. He traveled the length of the massive shadow that now clung to the area because of his presence in bankai and he emerged behind Jiruga. Jiruga, feeling his re-emergence tried to turn around but his tentacles were clumsy and weakened by his lack of reatsu. Using a Kage gigai wrought sword Konimatsu slashed at one of the tentacles Jiruga was supporting himself on severing it half way. Jiruga screamed in pain as he lost balance and called one of his other 3 tentacles to act as his new leg. Another tentacle came flying at Konimatsu from the left and large black column formed beside Konimatsu stopping the tentacle which rebounded off the column without even fracturing it.

“Sumizome Tengai (Dyed-black dome)” Konimatsu muttered, and the shadows at the edges darkened and lifted up off the ground from all directions encompassing Konimatsu and his opponent in a light-less dome.

“You rely too much on your senses child” Konimatsu said, his voice reverberating off the dark walls of the dome, making them come from everywhere. “Your doom is sealed within this dome.”
Panicking, Jiruga held himself up with his own two feet using his tentacles to shield his front frantically looking left and right. He charged up a cero in his left hand, probably hoping the red light would do some good, but the light it emmited was swallowed a few centimeters from where Jiruga stood.

“I will Kill you then slice you up, do you hear me Konimatsu? DO YOU!!!?” his voice did not reverberate, making his threat lose the edge it could have had. Konimatsu shumpoed behind Jiruga and slashed creating a deep gash across his back. Jiruga spun around his tentacles flailing wildly in hopes of hitting something his cero flying atpoint blank. But Konimatsu had sank into his shadow, swimming again and waiting for Jiruga to crack.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH” Jiruga screamed, as he shot missile after missile in all direction, bala shooting out from his hands. Each missile hit the wall and the pocket cero’s detonated creating a momentary flash of red light which was quickly swallowed by the darkness. the bala doing next to nothing in terms of illumination. Some missiles hit the same spot and effectively created an opening which was swallowed up again by the domes self regenerative powers. The brief flashes of light were enough to show Jiruga that Konimatsu wasn’t even there, but by the time he stopped firing, his tentacles had already been greatly depleted in size and sections. What a Face

"KuKuKuKuKu", was the only sound now reverberating on the walls as Konimatsu re-emerged cackling from the base of his throat with psychotic mirth.

“This time I don’t even need to bind you kukuku, this will end it, I have put in too much effort into this as it is. Before you die, tell me, why do you espada insist on biting the hand that feeds you?” Konimatsu asked. "Have i not been a good father, only asking for your obedience in return for your creation?"

“I KNEW IT WAS YOU, YOU FILTHY LIGHT FORSAKEN –” Jiruga began both his hands glowing red with ceros.

Konimatsu let him carry on as he quietly chanted; this time he did not let his voice reverberate. "Binding spell 57, mirror prison", Konimatsu whispered under his breath, before launching into another sortie of chants.

“AND YOU EXPECT US YOU LICK YOUR BOOTS? NO! REGENERATION!” Jiruga finished , charging up a cero in both hands and aiming point blank, and not far off point at all with his left hand. All 3 of his tentacles grew an extra 2 extra sections each and the one Konimatsu had cut in half grew 1 section but. Jiruga fired both ceros at the same time, and they rebounded of the glass prison walls Jiruga didnt even know he was held in. They both hit Jiruga at the same time, one from the left, the other from the back and he collapsed in a smoking heap. Jiruga got up again, a look of grim determination on his face, and he beat down, the internally weakened invisible barrier down with his tentacles, but that had given Konimatsu ample time to finish his final spell.

“Hadou 90” Konimatsu said, letting his voice carry. If Jiruga did not die, Konimatsu would have to settle for cutting off his head, because he didn’t think he was be capable of casting another strong spell. ‘Nyneave better have kept that squad 4 member alive’ Konimatsu thought absently and he finished his sentence “Black coffin”. A box of black energy surrounded Jiruga and he was pierced by dozens of energy "spears", lacerating him from head to toe. When it disappeared, Jiruga was a ruined bloodied mess, spluttering and chocking on his own blood.

“A waste, had you not been mutinous we could have worked in the lab together back in las notches” Konimatsu said as the dome broke down, while staring down at Jiruga who was now disintegrating from the legs upwards and from the top of his head downwards. "You are certainly not getting off that easily" Konimatsu murmured, conjuring a sword severing Jiruga’s head before it got a chance to dissipate any further.

“That’s for threatening to cut me open like a test subject, you idiot. And this if for planning to kill me.” Konimatsu said adding, "Destructive spell 54, abolishing flames". A purple blast shot out from his fist, engulfing the severed head in flames before destroying it completely. Turning around and facing back to where he had left the others Konimatsu could sense that the most of the battles had died down. From the feel of things, the shinigami had won or were at least winning. Pulling out an ear piece from his pocket, Konimatsu fitted it into his ear, pushed it in and static came out at first then a clear woman's voice.

"Done already sir?"

"Yes I am Nyneave. Tell Coulain and Merradin to get busy, and see to the senkai gates as well except the one im going to return through of course"

"Understood sir"

"Ohh and wake up Jaichim. Our squad 4 guest will come in handy when I get back to the lab"

"Any thing else sir?" Nyneave asked.

"Yes, pack everything you think you are going to want to take with you and do you have 'it' with you"

"Very well, thank you sir. And yes, i have it in my pouch right now."

"Good take good care of it"

"Understood. See you soon sir"

The communication died and Konimatsu pocketed the ear piece all the while smiling to himself. Sheathing lanfear, Konimatsu began to walk slowly, dragging his left foot as though it had no feeling in it. Now he was going to go back to the captain commander, congratulate him for his victory and bring him back with him to the lab and he knew the perfect way to do it. "Paralysis of the leg would be the perfect alibi kukukuku. Everything is going according to plan" the smile spread into a grin that told of dark mirth. Everything certainly was going according to plan.

Number of posts : 153 Age : 36 Location : US of A Registration date : 2009-09-19

It was as if the skies were crying from the pain it felt from so many powerful spiritual beings fighting in it. The down pour was so heavy that each inhale almost felt as if whoever was taking it was trying to breathe underwater. The rain beat down on Japan and those whom resided above its damp grounds and wet buildings with incredible force. The battlefield was a classic picture, one that seemed to form whenever a grand scale battle of similar magnitude took place; two opposing sides separated by nothing more than the bloodshed created in between them when they clash.

Like the heavy rain, the bodies of the fallen fell down to earth. Those Shinigami whom survived the blow which sent them plummeting to the distant ground died the moment their battered bodies collided with it. There were few Arrancar bodies among them, not because they were winning, but instead, because their bodies tended to disintegrate before hitting the ground turned graveyard.

“Both sides are suffering enormous casualties.” The nameless Arrancar thought to himself, paying no mind to the dozen or so Shinigami that had surrounded him. “It's difficult to tell whether or not one side is trumping the other.” Since the moment the battle began he’d grown accustomed to the Shinigami in his vicinity. The monumental battle had raged on for a while and not once did he have to lift a finger to attack or defend.

His appearance seemed to frighten Shinigami more than it had ever done to any beings he’d come across in Hueco Mundo.
“He’s just another damn Arrancar!” A shaking Shinigami shouted. His shaking could have been caused by the very sight of his nameless foe, but the cold rain that beat down on his body could have just as easily been to blaim. His dark hair clung to his face and covered his eyes, much like a dog after a swim. If this Shinigami was scared, his hair hid the expression well. “Let’s show this guy what the members of the Gotei 13 do any hollow that steps out of li-!” Before he could actually move the fury of the one he’d called ‘just another damn Arrancar’ had consumed him. Jagged, erratic streams of light leapt through the skies and danced atop the glowing Arrancar’s clothing and skin. His skin crackled and sizzled before his garbs went up in flame. Before long, all that remained of the rambunctious fool were his weightless charred limbs which the rain quickly turned to moist soot. It would seem that the Shinigami weren’t the only ones that caused their enemies bodies to disintegrate. Those who remained had just learned what would happen should any of them underestimate a powerful foe.

“Will so few Espada fair so well against so many Captains?” There were a few Espada in different locations engaging upper level Gotei 13 members; the spiritual pressure that resulted from the battles seemingly overwhelmed the senses and made it difficult to tell which opponent was actually winning.
As time passed, each novice Shinigami that fell was replaced by another more adept fighter. Before long his opponent’s managed to close the distance that separated the nameless Arrancar from his Shinigami attackers. Like a swarm of crows they flocked to him, hoping that their numbers alone would give rise to the Arrancar’s death and like hungry beaks their zanpakutos viciously pecked and dug at him. They might as well been birds. Strike after strike was thwarted by his protective elemental shell; sparks and wind burst from his radiant skin. After the blade of a Shinigami made contact with his own zanpakuto his aura flickered before fading completely. In the brief moment that followed the zanpakuto of several Shinigami tore through various section of his robe before piercing his soft weak skin; his left shoulder, chest, and back all ran red with blood.

As if banished from the skies after an agonizing lashing, he began his downward spiral toward the flooded, corpse covered ground. His downward trail of blood was followed by the Shinigami who’d disbursed his elemental shell. Surprisingly, the loud static sound of his fluttering black robes overwhelmed the sounds created by nearby clashing blades. The Shinigami's speed and unhesitating reaction to his nameless foe's was proof of both his bravery and stupidity. The moment that the Arrancar's glowing aura returned he unleashed yet another fearsome attack, had his Shinigami attacker not been so close, he may have been able to dodge. Like those killed before him, his body turned to soot in the heavy rain after the unique cero took his life.

The return of his elemental shell slowed his descent, but not enough to keep him from eventually hitting the nearest pile of corpses. “This is truly disgusting!" As he leaped from atop the pile, toward the sky, he found himself surrounded by the same group of Shinigami who'd caused his injuries.
"We know how to beat you now!" Echoed a voice from one of the many Shinigami in the crowd. "Your halo!" Another shouted confidently. "Hitting your halo takes away you defenses and even temporarily takes away your attack abilities!" The circle separating them from their target slowly began closing. Any one of them lucky enough to land a hit on his halo would most definitely be responsible for the Arrancar's demise. "Did you honestly think that you could take on the gods of death?! Your fate was sealed the second you became a hollow!"

For the first time in his entire existence as an Arrancar the nameless one felt the same fear that many weaker hollows feel before being slayed by a supposed death god. "Are they truly gods?" Unlike before, the entire group rush him. "Gods of death....my death?" The first zanpakuto missed his halo by several inches, it collided with his shoulder before harmlessly sliding off. "But they were killed so easily. Gods would never allow themselves to be slain..." The tip of another zanpaktuo found itself struggling to get through his protective shell and penetrate his forehead. “No...no one will ever label themselves as a god unless they can force me to my knees! I will never again bow to the lowly cattle!” As a final zanpakuto was thrust down toward his halo its user, along with every other Shinigami, was thrust backward by powerful winds. “Nube De Siniestro!”
His form darkened as dark clouds burst from every pore and melded with those storm clouds which already existed. In a matter of seconds his flesh and bones had vanished; replaced by six floating, faintly glowing objects. As if giving an open challenge, an invitation for his opponents to attack, the nameless Arrancar held his position. It took far much more time for the Shinigami to realize what had happened, but once the first caught on, the others caught on soon after. “Those things are organs! Is that him? Is he still alive?” They began to approach hesitantly. “He must be...” Another said, obviously bewildered. “...they wouldn’t just float there.” They had gotten so close that a few of them could even reach out and touch the radiant ensemble of exposed organs. “What a pathetic resurrection-”
“Up there!! He’s up there!!”

A group of overhead clouds quickly gathered and shifter from their previous position. Before long a gigantic face like formation had appeared. “What the hell?!” It’d protruding cheek bones, moderately broad nose, and full lips stretch downward slightly. “Maldición De Deidad”
Immediately a set of eyes formed. Their bright white center became fixed on the group surrounding the suspended clusters of exposed tissue. A circle of light appeared on the ground around the majority; those closest to the nameless Arrancar.
“Farewell fraudulent gods.” An electric voice echoed. His organ's faint glowing quickly intensified, every so often one glowed much brighter than the others before lightning shot from its center. Much like a seamstress pushes a needle and thread through fabric, the Arrancar’s lightning pierced Shinigami after Shinigami before dissipating after passing the edge of the circle created by Maldición De Deidad. In the time it takes most to blink the Arrancar literally broke the hearts of each supposed Death God that stood within his territory.
“Look! There are more Arrancar coming!”
Spheres of blood red light flew past the nameless one before making impact with many of the Shinigami that were lucky enough to survive his attack.
As there numbers dwindled the circle faded, leaving behind only the hole riddled bodies of the Shinigami group and the restored body of their nameless slayer. “If you are gods you are surely among the lowliest...”

“Nameless one!” Shouted one of the three Arrancar that had just arrived to aid him. They appeared, hidden in a flurry of cero and bala; a fitting entrance for fellow Fraction 7 Members. “Our sides appear to be evenly matched.” He continued.
“I wouldn’t say that just yet-”
“Azazel, Xena, head fraction, arrancar whom I trust.” Said a voice, which echoed from an unknown place. “Who is that?” He asked as each of member of the newly formed group began to either cover their ears or slowly massage their temples. “Open garganta to soul society, the way is open.” The voice continued; it echoed from some unknown corner of his mind.
“They hear it also?”
“Emerelus, leave my sister and go to Las noches, notify Jacques, and get the other espada to come.”
“What manner of speech is this and who is actually attempting to give me orde-?”
“Call me Lucifer, Mammon, Asmodeus, Leviathan, Beelzebub, Satan, Belphegor, I may be all of these, but most importantly I am Lucius of squad 5, and I am your master. Now do as I say, the senkaimon will be closed so those few of you who I have trusted will be able to do as you wish without fear of captain interruption.”
“A SHINIGAMI?!” His heart raced. Its steady beat sped to a rhythm much faster than anything he was comfortable with.
“Living among the cattle is becoming more and more bothersome as time passes.” He thought to himself while trying to calm his heart. “Why would a Shinigami wish to lead the Espada and why would he allow for them to kill Shinigami? Is finding the answer even worth my effort?”
After much thought and reflection he’d decided that even if he did wish to find out that he should do so after the current battle has ended.
A Shinigami powerful enough to lead the Espada was not one that he should disobey.
Several dozen black cavities opened as others decided it was in their best interest to follow the orders given by the Shinigami.

As the air parted ways before his fingertip a black window began to open. “Nameless one, are you actually going?” They each looked to him as if waiting to follow his lead.
“Ofcourse he's going you fool!” Another shouted. "We were given a vast amount of power by our master...I don't particularly care that he's a Shinigami."
"What?! Did you just say?" As if made from air, another Arrancar appeared between them. A brief low pitched static sound followed. "What do you mean a Shinigami?!"
The nameless one entered the black cavity unconcerned with discussion that the rest of his group were having. Power was nice, but freedom and ascension back into the heavens is what he truly longed for. "The nameless Arrancar is right, we don't have time to stand here and talk about it. We've been given a second mission." One by one the four of them followed. As they exited the dark and cool surroundings of the garganta they found themselves in a new world; a warm world with sunny and clear skies.
The sudden change from a rainy thunderous battlefield to a warm paradise was both sudden and short lived. Those Arrancar who'd arrived before them had already begun attacking. Tall green trees and beautiful Japanese houses were set ablaze and ravaged.

As the last of the group stepped from the garganta it closed behind them. "What the hell do you guys mean 'Shinigami' and where are we goi-"
"You didn't get the announcement why did you come?" One of the group said.
"Our master gave very clear instructions. Only those Arrancar whom he trust were to go to Soul Society. If you didn't get it it's because he didn't trust you and disobeying orders is no way to gain his trus-"
The unwelcomed Arrancar of their group was engulfed by a red light which quickly grew in intensity. All others whom were part of the small party were thrust backwards by the sudden burst of pressure that followed. Even the nameless Arrancar was unable to hold his midair position.
As the unwelcomed Arrancar's headless corpse fell to the ground, a new figure emerged from where the corpse once stood. "Not only is that no way to gain trust..." It was an odd man; sick looking but also toned and muscular. "It's also a good way to bring shame your Fraction 7." His skin was extremely translucent, it sat tightly atop blue veins that lined portions of his face and various parts of exposed skin. His black and white robes were neatly kept as were his dull, slicked back yellow hair. "By allowing that Arrancar to cross over you jeopardized our objective and risked making Fraction 7 look incompetent." As he rose his scythe like zanpakuto and pointed it at the nameless Arrancar and his group a sphere of red light appeared at its tip. The glowing Arrancar quickly jumped up to reclaim his former position in the air and rose his hands in preparation for the coming attack. "His first cero, it may have been more powerful than my own attack." Thick, dense waves of lightning crept along his hand and began to condense before his open palm."As punishment I'll kill you...I'm certain Pain-Sama wouldn't mind."
"Pain is gone!" A voice shouted from above drawing everyone's attention in the process. Wha..what did you just say?!" The attacker stuttered.
"I just received word that he was purified not too long ago by a Shinigami!" The voice was a familiar one. The distant figure slowly descended and landed in time landed between the two, each still holding their cero in place.

He had a tall muscular build. He dwarfed both combatants and was more muscular than both as well. His body was completely covered with dense ivory colored bone. His long white overcoat was riddled with the blood of his freshly killed prey. His face, badly scarred, was partly covered by mid length. Deep red hair. He threw one of his two crude looking blades over his shoulder before glaring at the scythe wielding reaitsu master. "Christobar, I am Ares of Fraction 5. Please, both of you cease your attacks." He said, slowly turning his head to face the only one in the Arrancar group that he'd had any dealings with. "And you already know who I am Nameless."
"You said that Pain has been purified?"
"Yes."
"Then...our Fraction is leaderless." He said in an almost nostalgic tone.
"Not exactly." As he spoke Ares began walking over to Christobar.
"Pain is dead, meaning the next to claim the title of Espada is Emerelus Krudd."
"Krudd..." The sound of the name passing his lips seemed to disgust him somewhat.
"Christobar since he is your new Espada, and based on what I know about your Fraction, it's likely that either you or Nameless here will gain the position of head Fraction. Christobar, there is a war happening right now and I doubt that killing members of your own fraction is beneficial. You're mission is to attack Soul Society, not your rival for the Head Fraction position. So the question is, do you want to be handed the title because your leader feels that you are the best man for the job, or do you want to dishonorably rise to the position after shamelessly attacking your competition in the middle of a mission?"
There was no need for Christobar to respond to the question; his answer was an obvious one. As he looked past Ares and locked eyes with the blind man who was now his competitor the destruction that was occuring around him as well as those whom surrounded him, faded; there was only the nameless one. Christobar had beheaded another Arrancar and would have tried to kill members of his own fraccion just because they risked bringing shame down on himself and Fraction seven.

Konimatsu dragged his left foot along the dangai floor, hopping on one foot to dodge large pieces of rock and debris from the fight that had taken place here. Hychien sat leaning onto the left wall, his garments torn in several places and blood streaking out of open wounds. There was still a distant din of fighting going on, clangs and booms that suggested heavy damage being given and taken elsewhere but the reatsu levels were not high enough to be important. Despite all the noise Hychien’s head turned fractionally at the sound of Konimatsu’s soft approach, something Konimatsu decided would be worth remembering.

“Congratulations on your victory my lord captain commander. What under the light happened here I know that specific espada looked particularly … troublesome but all this carnage?”

“You don’t know the half of it” Hychien replied lifting his head to look at Konimatsu as he rose to his feet. “You on the other hand don’t look so good” He added gesturing to Konimatsu’s limp leg and the slash across his chest. “What’s wrong with it?”

“My opponent had interesting nerve function impeding abilities, but the prognosis is positive and I managed to kill him and extract some valuable information.” Konimatsu said emphasising on the word valuable. Hychiens eyes rose with interest at the end of Konimatsu’s statement inviting him to share what he has learnt. “ Yes, I was excited too. Can you imagine it, the ability to disrupt nerve impulses? If that idea could be harnessed the …”

“I thought you learned something about the Arrancar invasion …” Hychien broke in impatiently, cutting Konimatsu short before he became absorbed in his “discoveries”.

“Ohh that. What a boring topic when compared to the idea of stopping nerve impulses. Used well enough you could win a battle in a matter of …” Hychien cleared his throat cutting Konimatsu off again. “Yes, well, I did learn something about that as well. I know the motive behind this attack and it really changes little in terms of our goal which is to make sure that the arrancar do not succeed.”

Hychiens body shifted slightly and his posture became more diplomatic, his face taking on a cool and composed expression and he spoke with a voice fitting a formal session in central 46 chambers themselves. “What is the situation we are facing? Can it be dealt with quickly?”

“Very good questions sho-taichou. We can actually, it turns out their motive are closely linked to my squad and secrets held only by a few in my squad and in the central 46 of course and no one else. Not even you.” Konimatsu said taking a brief dramatic pause and studying Hychiens unwavering diplomatically blank expression. “My predecessors predecessor created a device that later proved to be virtually indestructible. It was built for the sole purpose of extending a shinigami’s abilities and powers by giving them the powers of a hollow and the device was called the hougyoku.” Konimatsu said in continuation; even though his eyes did not hold a single flicker of recognition to the word so Hychien continued to take everything in its course his expression remained unchanged. Pausing again Konimatsu pursed his lips, ‘how can someone be so comfortable with being kept in the dark about something so important?’ Konimatsu asked himself.
“When central 46 caught wind of this project it had already been conducted and completed in secret, they were immediately appalled by the idea and they ordered for its shut down. Their judgement made sense too, increasing shinigami powers would certainly pack a massive punch against hueco mundo but it was considered a threat. Who can say how much control hollows have over themselves and if mixing shinigami and hollow powers together would create some form of instability? Another question that was raised was how would they ever come to trust someone who was half hollow with power above normal shinigami? As such the 12th squad captain was exiled. The hougyoku was then hidden somewhere as it turned out to be impossible to destroy despite their best efforts and the research, its memory included was destroyed as thoroughly as possible.”

“Clearly not thoroughly enough.” Hychien replied nodding in silent thought. “From what we know of espada they are hollow with somewhat shinigami characteristics so im guessing this hougyoku will make more of them that’s the only logical reason for them attacking us for it. Either that or some shinigami is working with them to become this hybrid.”

“Kukuku”, Konimatsu chuckled. “you do have a good head on your shoulders after all. It will make more arrancar out of hollows and that’s certainly frightening and I was thinking the exact same thing though by my calculations odd of that being the case are low. The experiment itself wasn’t much of a success and again not many people even know about the hougyoku but it is not an impossibility. After all this I might request for the right to study it, if it cant be destroyed then maybe with better understanding it can be deactivated to changed, or something along those lines”

“Do not get ahead of your self, one step at a time Hisori. What we need to do now is protect the hougyoku. First we will head out to the central 46 inform them of the situation and get the location of the device from them.”

“There is no need for that. I know where the device is. That’s something that is shared between the 12th squad captain and the central 46 itself and we can get in touch with them from my lab and inform them about the situation but foremost I need to get to my lab and well …” Konimatsu said gesturing to his limp left leg. “Can you still shumpo?” Konimatsu asked.“Good.” He said in response to Hychiens nod.

Limping, Konimatsu dragged himself closer to Hychien as Hychien pulled his sword out and opened the senkai gate from the dangai. Konimatsu held out a hand towards Hychien and grudgingly Hychien took it and swunk Konimatu onto his back.

“We are not mentioning this to anyone ever” Hychien gritted through his teeth.

“Child, I believe that line belongs to me” Konimatsu replied harshly.

“Actually It belongs to me more because you are getting a free trip to your lab”

Konimatsu was tired and drained of reatsu so he left his response to a mild “tsk”. Hychien tensed for a second and swooshed through the senkai gate shumpoing at his top speed, supporting Konimatsu on his back. It was not long before the two captains were slowing down as they made it to the barracks.

“I think you can let me down now” Konimatsu chimed in as Hychien began to weave through the intricate squad 12 corridors. Konimatsu managed to keep up with Hychiens brisk walk despite the fact that he was dragging one foot behind him. The sight may have seemed odd had it been anywhere other than the squad 12 barracks but none of the white coated squad 12 members that happened to be bustling up and down the corridors seemed to find the sight odd.

“The lab is the heart of this barrack and that is where we are headed.” Konimatsu said explaining where they were headed.

“Figured as much” was all Hychien said as the two approached 2 massive steel doors Konimatsu pulled away from Hychien to walk on his own accord giving the excuse that he was perfectly capable of covering the distance on his own. As they both walked through the doors white gas was blown at them through the frame from all sides. Hychien coughed uttering a mild curse.

“ Cant have bacteria in here so I developed an anti microbial spray to sterilise the environment, it will do you no harm.” Konimatsu said reassuringly, he did have a bad reputation when it came to unexpected things in after all.

“Makes sense” Hychien replied, whilst he surveyed the 6 squad 12 members that were scattered across the lab working on something alone or in pairs.. “Find that device” He ordered, his face contorting into a serious mask

A young woman with long black hair knotted together into a single braid that hung down her back all the way to her waist came bustling into the lab from another entrance. “Captain!” She cried out “I’ve been trying to get in contact with you! There is a problem with the disruptors.”

“What?!” Konimatsu bellowed only seconds before a red light began to flash a siren ringing in the lab.

“Hisori?” Hychien asked surprised by the oddity. An oddity in the center of oddities is surely an oddity …

“Ohh no …” Konimatsu gasped making his way quickly to main computer at the far end of the lab. The massive monitor quickly snapped into a view of soul society and red dots marked the entire page more appearing. “Gargantas …” Konimatsu uttered quietly “How is this possible, my work was flawless”

“The two we sent to keep maintain the disruptors are dead sir, the devices were destroyed” Nyneave added calmly.

Konimatsu turned to face Hychien. “You need to go and sort this out sir, it appears seretei had been infiltrated … And im afraid we either have a traitor or a mole in soul society”

“Im glad the effects of your opponents attack have worn off.” Hychien said as he stood there frowning at Konimatsu’s feet.

“Im glad you’re glad” Konimatsu snapped whilst mentally cursing himself for his slip up “I did say the prognosis was positive, it was bound to wear off. Anyway situation at hand”

“Find that device Hisori and don’t bungle it up like you did those disruptors of yours. When you are able you are to come and help out with this mess, we have to protect soul society!” Hychien said stately before turning around and striding out through the doors getting another blast of the white gas by the door.

Konimatsu turned back to the screen, typed a quick command into the computer and the red flashing stopped, the image of red dots on the massive screen shifted into a map of the whole squad 12 barrack with a purple dot labelled captain commander moving quickly along the halls.

“Good, he is leaving” Konimatsu said aloud but speaking to himself. “Everyone, Out!” Konimatsu ordered before turning to Nyneave. “Not you of course, you go and get Jaichim in here I need this healed and my reatsu replenished.” Wordlessly Nyneave strode out the door she had first entered through and returned a few moments later with a wiery eyed squad 4 member into an empty lab save for Konimatsu and all the equipment there.

“Why are you doing this Captain Hisori” was the first thing stuttered by the squad 4 shinigam at the sight of Konimatsu. “Your subordinates have been keeping me locked up for the last 2 days.”

“Have they now?” Konimatsu asked, glancing towards Nyneave with a mocking smile“this has all been a misunderstanding and I was only just told about it. I’ve ordered your immediate release and those responsible are going to be dealt with.”

“Thank you sir” Jaichim sighed, his face loosening up with relief and clearly not noticing the sarcasm. “Sir! You’re injured!” He said moving towards Konimatsu and placing a hand over his chest. The bleeding had stopped and the blood begun to dry. Jaichims hands began to glow green as he started healing Konimatsu.

“Next time wait till you are instructed to heal child.” Konimatsu said conversationally.

“Ohh forgive me sir, natural impulse” Jaichim replied a smile on his face. “My name is Jaichim Keradin.”

Tuning Jaichim out Konimatsu looked up at Nyneave. “Do you have the hougyoku?” Konimatsu asked.

“Yes sir” Nyneave responded pulling out a crystal structure from her belt pouch.

“Good, run the virus and get me my uniform I want to be formal today.” Konimatsu ordered

“Virus?” Jaichim echoed surprise in his tone as Nyneave strode over to another key board and made her fingers dance across the key board in a flurry.

“It’s means something else in this place Jaichim, don’t worry. I’m talking about machinery, nothing biological” Konimatsu said placidly the outsider.

“Ohh … I see” Jaichim replied clearly not understanding.

“Wow … You’re good Jaichim, my reatsu is already half way replenished, focus on that if you can.” Konimatsu said casually.

“Thank you,” Jaichim responded politely “Im better with the reatsu part of the healing than many in the squad 4 but that doesn’t count for much there because that’s the easiest bit to heal.”

“Really now, that’s certainly interesting” Konimatsu said managing to sound interested and surprised. These were things he already knew and the reason why he had had Nyneave detain Jaichim the night before.

“Uploaded and running” Nyneave announced getting up from where she sat and striding over to a cupboard and fetching a stack of white clothes then bringing it over to Konimatsu.

“Ahh Good ... My uniform. Done yet Jaichim?”

“Not fully, none of your wounds are serious” Jaichim replied.

“I meant with the reatsu.” Konimatsu replied curtly.

“Ohh that, yes I am.” Jaichim replied his face farrowed into a frown as he focused on healing Konimatsu’s physical wounds.

“That won’t be necessary thank you” Konimatsu said getting up.

“But sir..” Jaichim began before but Konimatsu cut him off his fist landing straight between Jaichim’s eyes. Jaichim crumbled to the floor unconscious immediately. Konimatsu turned and flicked his fingers and the air splint ripping open into garganta.

“Nyneave, this leads straight to my quarters in hueco mundo or rather the man in the shadows’ quarters. They are closed to all arrancar so you should be safe there until I arrive. Do not leave the quarters till I come for you and take this sack of meat with you, im sure there is something we can make of him.”

“Yes sir” Nyneave muttered before lifting the crumpled heap over her shoulder effortlessly and they walking through the garganta which began to close once she was through. As Konimatsu gathered the white clothes he heard a gasp. At the entrance Nyneave had come in through stood a lone squad 12 member. Short, podgy and balding then man had light green skin and black tinted goggled hid his eyes from view.

“YOU’VE DONE IT!” he exclaimed excitedly as he scrambled down some stairs towards the center where Konimatsu stood rigidly at having been surprised.

“Gavin” Konimatsu said calmly “What ever do you mean”

“Wh-what? This, that ofcourse. The garganta, you have worked out how it works that’s brilliant.” Gavin said coming closer.

Throwing his hands up Konimatsu laughed then patted gavin who was now standing infront of him on the shoulder. “That I have. Quite simple really, the scret actually lay in this.” Konimatsu said unsheathing his sword.”
“Lanfear?” Gavin asked curiously

“Yes, you see one day I was just sitting staring at it” Konimatsu began, moving his blade infront of his face. “and it suddenly hit me that I if just !!.” Konimatsu slashed and blood fountained from Gavins body which slid slowly to the floor.

“He better not have stained my uniform or else ill be angry” Konimatsu said sheathing Lanfear with one hand and unfolding him uniform for examination with the other.

“Good, unscathed. I wonder if lucius is back yet” Konimatsu muttered to himself absent mindedly as he took off his Haori and began to change attire.

Number of posts : 248 Age : 33 Registration date : 2009-08-02

Lucius skimmed through the garganta on a silver plate of reishi. Persephone followed at his side, her long red hair blowing in the rush of spirit particles. Behind them, running on a long bridge of reishi, were two captains. Sophia and Zacharias had pursued Lucius into this dark space. “Fools, I can't believe they'd follow me in here, I could be going anywhere.” Lucius skidded to a halt, his plate doing a full circle to face the two captains. “Why did you two have to follow. I shut off the senkai gates so you couldn't pursue, so you'd be safe.”

Zacharias leapt of the bridge, making his own in midair as reached Lucius's height. “SAFE, you think we'd believe you wanted us safe.” He held out his hand, focusing his power into it. A blade began to form there, but it's form dispersed before it could fully materialise. There was not enough wind in the garganta for his blade to formulate properly. His powers were useless in this realm.

“Your an idiot Zacharias. We may have fought as children, but did you ever think we hadn't become close.” Sophia down below tried to balance on a rapidly breaking bridge, as Persephone continued to the end of the garganta. She knew Lucius could handle this fight, and she would be but a distraction for him. “ I have shed far too much innoccent blood today, I will not spill yours to.”

“Then you'll die. BANKAI” His bankai was not made of wind, but instead of reishi, and in this place Zacharias's bankai was impossibly strong. The giant eagle of gold felt tougher, stronger, more real, than Lucius had ever felt it. It's claws seemed deadlier and it's eyes spoke it's hate. “ I give you this chance to release your bankai, against me and sophia you'll need it, if you don't want to die in a second.” Down below Sophia unleashed her bankai. The huge blade almost over balanced her, and her footholds shook more. Unlike Lucius or Zacharias she was no use on the spiritual bridges.

“Zacharias you of all people should understand. Look what happened to Gina, because she had hollow powers forced upon her.” The eagle swopped in at Lucius, but he managed to leap onto it's back, his hand plunged deep into it's plumage. Lucius rode the eagle in a circle before jumping down behind Zacharias. “Look at the captains of soul society, look at the recruits. Don't you see how bad the system is?” Sophia managd to get behind Lucius. Her bankai swung around as Zacharias's eagle unleashed a blast of wind. Letting his platform disappear, Lucius fell, and both attacks hit each other. The resulting force was so strong it caused the reishi in the garganta to swirl and block out sight for a few seconds.

“I don't have the history you and Zacharias have, but I can see something bad happened to you, I don't get it, but I will turn you back to the correct way of thinking.” Lucius barely dodged the swing of the ball attached to Sohpia's blade. As Lucius skidded away the eagle swooped down, catching him in it's beak. The captain unleashed a blast of kido, forcing the beak open, and shunpoed out of the birds mouth.

“So it's your way that is right? Gina was to be executed because she had extra power forced upon her. Shinigami who break the rules, or have dangerously psychotic minds, are not punished if they have power. Look at Kago.” Lucius was barely out of the mouth before Zacharias caught him in an uppercut. The shinigami was sent reeling as he spoke.

“I don't care about our philosophies vampire. I remember the first time we met. You destroyed my life that day. I lost my friends, respect, purpose. But there was more to my hate. I sensed something wrong in you. Even then you wanted this didn't you?” Zacharias grabbed Lucius, his eyes staring directly into the man's eyes. “Why did you have to make me do this. I started hating you, but now I see you as a brother. Even through everything you stuck by me. Me and you, we were transcendant, geniuses of our time. Why did it have to come to this.”

Lucius began to push back against Zacharias. He was stronger than he remembered. The vampire was actually winning. He had to end this now, he had to kill Lucius. “Kaze destruction.” The eagle in the sky shrunk. It's entire form folding in on itself. Golden light surrounded it and it's scream echoed into the eternal darkness of the garganta. Finally it ended as a single spear. “Sorry, Lucius.”

“You will be.” The shinigami struggled against Zacharias's grip. But he forced all his reiatsu into holding him there. What wind he managed to accumulate he used to bind the captain in place. But somehow Lucius was almost breaking the binding with pure strength. It shouldn't have been possible, but it was. It was too late. The spear shot down through the dark. It's golden light like a holy beacon. It it Lucius in his spine before it's radiance reached epic levels. Lucius's entire body lit up, and his skin began to float away.

“That's not right.” Lucius began to turn to nothing, and in his place remained Sophia. “How?” Her eyes glowed gold, every vein in her body wass on fire, and she creamed. The sound piercing Zacharias's heart. He had lived his life to get revenge on Lucius. He had become a shinigami to torment this man. The man who always came out on top. The man who did not deserve what he had. “In the end what have I done.”

“You are simply enacting your personality. You are so focused on me you fail to see anything else. It's why you should not have been allowed to be a shinigami. Remember when they asked why we became shinigami.” Lucius appeared behind Zacharias. His form completely unharmed. Sophia fell to her knee, her blood burning around her body, and her every breath felt like acid melting her lungs. “I wanted to protect humans. Gina wanted fame. And you wanted revenge. In what way is any of that pure. How is it fair that you get in with such a horrible reason. Don't you see, the system is corrupted. I lost my family to the system, and was the man punished? NO! HE WAS GIVEN A CAPTAINS SEAT.”

“How did you do this?” Zacharias fell to his knees. His one shot power had sealed his bankai, and his shikai was useless here. He could not seal his zanpakuto to have a blade either. He was powerless before Lucius.

“What is it that you used to say. You see through my illusion? It is a pity you could not see through this one. When your attacks met earlier, and we were blinded, I decided to show you my bankai. And you fought her, while you thought you fought me. She however thought an arrancar had appeared.” Zacharias shook his head in disbelief. His hands held against his head, he struggled to comprehend what had happened.

“Lucius, what, why, I still don't understand.”

“The system is corrupt, I will remake it, and use it for it's true purpose. I will cleanse the world of shinigami, and then save humans. I will do all of this, and no one will stop me.”

“You can't do this alone, the arrancar will turn on you once you kill all shinigami. Then humans will be totally destroyed. You are not a god.”

Lucius activated his shikai. Slowly wrapping each chain around Zacharias he gave a sigh. The man did not see his full vision, and never would. “I do not presume to be a god. Shinigami do. You call yourselves death gods. I choose to remain human. In the end you seperate yourselves form humans as much as hollows do. At least they are commanded by instinct. Shinigami are pompous fools who have grown too big for their station in life.”

“Heh, in the end I suppose you win then Lucius. But mark my words, you will fail, and when you do humans will be doomed.”

“Then me and Hisori will not fail.” Lucius began to drain Zacharias of his energy. Sucking in his reiatsu, and drinking it down. In one day he had absorbed a human, an arrancar, and now a shinigami. “We will stand victorious, and save humanity, by toppling the system.”

“You know it's funny. You are a man who uses shadows, uses darkness and illusions. But I can see, every kill you make, every time you harm a soul you cry. You aren't cut out for this. Even your zanpakuto doesn't want to hurt your enemies. This process, there is no pain, this absorption is even quite pleasant.”

“If you like something you won't run from it, that is the purpose of an illusion, to fool everyone into doing what you want. I am sorry this had to happen Zacharias, but your too dangerous, you know me, and with that knowledge may one day bring ruin to my plans.”

“Don't be sorry, we both knew one day we would fight like this. Hell I hoped it would come to this, but I never thought your powers extended to this.” The captains flesh began to flow away. He was dieing, slowly, every particle of his body breaking down to nothing. “ Goodbye, Luicus Ma...” Zacharias burst into pieces and flowed into Lucius's chains. His power absorbed by the captain.

“Wow, a captain, and espada and a human, all in one day. Your spoiling me Lucius.”

“Don't get used to it Nosferatu, there won't be anymore human souls for you to feast on.” Lucius stepped out of the garganta into soul society, and into the destruction.

Konimatsu, now garbed in white where Shinigami were supposed to wear black arrived at the scene of chaos. Arrancar were battling shinigami and the shinigami were being over powered. Far off to the left, Hychien swung his sword, carving a path through arrancar after arrancar. Konimatsu let his eyes stray as he surveyed the scene, when finally his eyes landed on Lucius, just the man he needed to see. Shumpoing closer, a blur of white he landed beside him and said
"The hougyoku is on its way. All goes as originally planned."

Lucius turned to face Konimatsu and he smiled briefly, before taking a look at his own garb.
"At least you managed to find time to change into the "appropriate" uniform"

"What this? This is just for formalities sake, im still debating whether or not i will continue in this fashion. Only a little while longer now Lucius, we need to rally the other arrancar and tell them that the mission is complete."

From a far Hychien bellowed "LUCIUS!?"

Lucius simply turned to stare at Hychien and Konimatsu did the same.
Hychiens walking pace started to increase, faster and faster until it turned into a small jog as he made his way towards Lucius and the would-be arrancar, but then suddenly he slowed into a brisk walk and then total stillness. Recognition donned on Hychiens face as he saw who Lucius had just been talking to.

He roared, before he shumpoed at blinding speed, landing a few meters infront of the two traitors."BASTARDS! What means of resolve is this?"

"Kukukuku I wouldn’t have expected you to be rejuvenated so hastily, child." Konimatsu commented smiling at the consternation on Hychiens face.

for the full battle click here

Number of posts : 248 Age : 33 Registration date : 2009-08-02

“What do we do?” Central 46 was in uproar. They had records of only a few arrancar coming to sereti. There were still more than 1500 shinigami still in seretei, but these arrancar were destroying so much. And readings showed Konimatsu and Hychien fighting. This was terrible. No one in the entire place had an idea what to do. “We must hold here until the other captains get here. The senkai gates will reopen soon. Only another captain can get us here.” There were sounds of an explosion outside, and then nothing, complete silence. “Are they gone, are we ok?” There was a whirring at the door, it was opening, slowly.

The tall man stepped through the door. His body covered by a black suit, over a dark purple shirt. As he strode into the room his long black ponytail blew about against the winds direction, fire burned in his eyes as he regarded all the men and women of this place. Walking slowly he had one black gloved hand atop his diamond topped cane, his other hand fiddling with the dark tie on his neck.“It's Lucius, thank god, he can help protect us, he is of Hychien's class after all.” Lucius finished his walk just inside the entrance to central 46, Persephone beside him holding a fine top hat for him.

“Central 46, just the people I hoped to see alive.” The men and women of the governing body all ran out to see him. Lucius took the hat from his sister and placed it gently onto his head. “Over a century ago, there was an incident involving my death. A certain shinigami who watched and laughed as a hollow ripped my family to shreds.”

“We... we killed that man, he was punished.”

“No, he was useful, so you gave him a full pardon. Next, Gina, she was declared to be exterminated as if she was a hollow, simply because of an accident.”

“You are soldiers, you know the risks. We couldn't let one of her calibre go loose as a hybrid, she had to be killed.”

“Kago, the sick and twisted captain of squad 3, he was given full pardon, because he is a captain. You idiots.” The whole governing body took a step back at Lucius's anger. Second thoughts began to drift through their minds, and they knew something had gone terribly wrong. “Now it is your time to be judged.”

“Why? What does this serve, without us the shinigami are leaderless, and then what, you'll destroy them to? How does this benefit humans, how is it possible you call yourself different, better, purer than us?” The man who spoke stood up to his full height. He was not tall, or well built, he was entirely unimposing. But he stood up to the captain.

“Have no doubts, I will protect humans. If I killed every arrancar and hollow then what? Shinigami would have no purpose, but would still exist, then what. They will get bored, and then humans will feel true terror.” Lucius grabbed the man who stood before him, and with a burst of kido sent him flying into a group of his comrades. “For humans to be safe both shinigami and hollows must be eradicated, and a new order imposed to stop new hollows being made. In the end I will purify reality. Starting with you sinners.”

“We're sorry.” Persephone stepped up, her blade held out to face them. “Guards, please come.” The 46 men and women began to panic as a team of shinigami ran in to intercept Lucius. Each one was as strong as a lieutenant. It seemed that the men and women were prepared for an attack.

“You could have sent these guards out to fight, they may have helped stall the arrancar I have brought here, but no. YOU HAD THEM PROTECT YOU.” Lucius's reiatsu began to flare. His anger at this ruling class of cowards was beyond anything he had ever felt. “Remove them.” Jacques walked into the room beside Lucius. The floor at his feet crumbling away to dust as he strode towards the shinigami. Two leapt at him but his scythe cut through them, their dead bodies turning to dust at his feet as he kept walking. One ran for Persephone, but her blade sliced through his leg, cutting muscle and causing him to stumble. She followed through with a a swift stab to his neck, piercing the artery and leaving him bleeding to death slowly, hole through his throat completely.

As Jacques and Persephone killed the guards Lucius kept walking forwards. “Your time has come now, to pay for your treachery to humanity. And I sentence you to an infinite prison sentence. Jacques, take Persephone far away." The arrancar nodded and grabbed the young womans arm. she went with him willingly, taking only one last look at her brother. She had seen him as a leader, a brother, an ordinary man, and now she saw him angry, never before had she witnessed anything like this.

"What are you going to do? You can't murder us, your better than that Lucius, surely?"The other governers all cried out in agreement, some begging for their lives. a couple more guards leapt at Lucius but he ducked under them, slamming his fist into their necks as they passed. He was not in thee mood to play anymore.

"Sinner gaze upon your own reflection, look deep into your eyes and see the devil god sees. feel his just wrath and recoil in fear. sinner cower before your lord and ask for forgiveness although there is none, there is only the will of the just, the law of gods, there is only the justice that comes to all like you. forbidden bakudo 100. hell" The earth rumbled, and out of the solid floor sprouted a rip in dimensions. it's edges rimmed in fire and dark reiatsu. Dead howls sprayed form the center, sending a chill down the men and women of central 46. Wind whipped around them, and ghostly hands reached out to grab them. tearing at their flesh and dragging them towards the rip. Each one of them screamed in terror. They had to get away, they had to escape. "Your sentence is final, not even Hychien could get out of this spell." Men were torn in two as women screamed, flayed alive and dragged into the pit of hell. Their screams bored into Lucius's consciousness, but he felt no pity for them.

As the last of the men fell Lucius gasped huge breaths. he was so tired. ripping a hole to hell was the most difficult thing he had done, but this spell was his greatest creation, and served the most fitting punishment. He had waited 114 years for that moment, the time when he could cast the people who caused his family's death into hell. All that remained was to remove the shinigami themselves, but that would be done at some later point, today was not the fitting time for their ultimate destruction.

The air around them was covered in arrancar. The espada caused havoc everywhere, slaying shinigami without giving them a chance. There was fire everywhere, mayhem ensued, Lucius and Konimatsu, the figures in the shadows, had brought soul society to it's knees, but it's time was not yet, it had to live a while longer.

A raven landed next to Lucius. It's form unwinding into his partner. "Took your time, you even had to go bankai, I didn't expect that from you." Konimatsu straightened to his full height. He was clearly still tired from his fight, apparently he hadn't had time to refresh with one of his devices.

"Well we don't all have your powers Lucius." Konimatsu looked over Lucius's entire get up, one eyebrow cocked in apparent humor. “I think it's time we went don't you? We have what we want, and the longer we stay, the harder we make it for soul society to do it's job. And for now we need it to continue, even if it is greatly weakened.” Arrancar wove around the sky, firing cero down at barracks, destroying buildings everywhere. The screams of shinigami filled the air, as did the screams of innocents from the rugonkai. “Do you want to do the honors?”

Lucius began to chant, his arms drawn back in great, overexaggerated motions. "Tentaikura. Arrancar, it is time to pull out, we are going back to Hueco Mundo. Jacques, Judas, Emerelus, rendevous with me and Konimatsu Hisori." As Lucius spoke he felt a disruption of spiritual energy behind him. It was strange he didn't feel the persons reiatsu, it could only mean one thing.

"If your here I'm guessing the others won't be far behind. It seems we mistimed the senkai gates reopening." The captain of squad two stood behind Lucius and Konimatsu, both his blades behind each of their backs, right at the saketsu. "This is awkward, it seems you have us." Every other captain suddenly appeared, their forms running and shunpoing in, encircling Lucius and Konimatsu.

"Fast response, It is a pity they weren't so quick at figuring us out, it may have restored some of my faith in soul society." Each captain held their respective blades out, ready to strike at a moments notice. "It seems they have us, so what now?"

"Now, my traitorous friends, you are both going into custody." The captain pressed his swords into their backs. The threat was clear, lose their powers, or come quietly. "Now relinquish your blades unto me"

Cypher was stopped in his speech, the sudden mass of spiritual pressure shocking him, and causing him to leap away from he two captains.. The arrancar had slammed into the ground opposite them, and in so doing had disrupted everyone. In that moment both Lucius and Konimatsu used the shadows to escape their foes, reappearing beside Jacques. "Masters, are you ready?"

"Of course, shall we make our grand exit now?"

"Lets, I have records of the captain commanders bankai now, and I'm guessing you have some work you want to do in Hueco Mundo as well?"

"Yes, I've got some training to give to my favourite fractions." The captains around them recovered from the sudden shock, each one preparing to attack once again. Calling out their zanpakuto's name, trying to unseal their zanpakuto, they began to rush the small traitorous group.

"Heheheheheheheheheheheheheheheh" Emerelus danced out from behind a burning building, his body wisted in his released form. "Shi-ni-ga-mi, today they are stopped by me. My master is here, he spreads the fear., the dread the shadows, the visions of the dead. Bow down to them, the shadowmancers, bow down to them or be punished for all eternity."

"That last bit didn't rhyme Emerelus, you need a bit more work." Judas stood on the air above thee captains. They were shocked at the loss of their zanpakuto. The idea that any creature could seal their zanpakuto was truly abhorrent to them. "Comon masters, your palace awaits it's newly revealed guests." Persephone shunpoed over, next to Judas in the sky. Excitement filled her eyes at the prospect of finally leaving soul society. Ever since she remembered the truth about her death she had felt sick even being in this place, and now she was free.

The group of traitors and arrancar flew upwards, to regroup with each other. Six beings standing in the air over soul society as it burned. The victory was definitely theirs that day. The eight captains below stared up at the traitors. Hate filling their eyes. Even without bankai's they would be a force to be reckoned with. But both Lucius and Konimatsu had bested the captain commander single handedly, and the arrancar standing by them were clearly as strong. “Goodbye my old friends, the next time any of us meet will be when we tear down the rule of the shinigami.”

“Jacques, open a garganta for me please, there is much work I have to do in the labs, now that Jiruga is gone. They need some expert guidance.” The arrancar opened a hole in space again. Both the lords of Hueco Mundo looked down at the captains, there was no feeling in those eyes, the captains before them didn't deserve any emotions from people so far above them.

Lucius and Konimatsu walked through Las Noches, their new palace. Floating to the top of the central tower on a disc of reiatsu both former captains were silent. All across Hueco Mundo the whispers were spread, and within the dome the arrancar watched as their new masters ascended. They entered the top room, encircled by their espada. For the first time the room was seen as it really was. Two thrones stood in the center. High stairs rose to these chairs, and the Lords of Hueco Mundo mounted them. Sitting back in the huge white seats Lucius and Konimatsu surveyed their servants. “Espada, we have a lot of work to do.”

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