Northeast Seireitei

[TherosAestas]

Suzume was staring out toward the rest of the Seireitei from atop the roof of Hideo’s office. Hair stood up on the back of her neck as an explosion emanated from Tenth division, followed by the academy, then finally from their neighbors in Thirteenth. Inei knelt beside her, whispering talk of all the arrancar that had descended upon the Seireitei. Her eyes settled on the oceanic display of light from Thirteenth. She could sense their contact within the division had been within the walls of Twelfth when the gran rey cero exploded, but she was swiftly heading back to her decimated division. Suzume’s hand tightened around her Denreishinki as she hit send.

Hideo would need the young Yume now more than he would need her. Her duty was to ensure the artifacts made it to safety before she could join anyone in battle. As she slid her Denreishinki back into her sleeve, she turned toward Hideo before he even appeared. She already knew what he had to tell her-he couldn’t just sit out the invasion, not with so much on the line for both him and his family-but she appreciated him feeling the need to inform her anyway.

Suzume froze as his hand gently rested against her cheek. Even after all these years she still wasn’t used to physical affection. She pressed her cheek into his palm and before his warmth and image vanished, she spoke softly ”Be sure to come home.” It was her way of showing concern even though she trusted in his ability and that of the Yume girl. Once he was gone and she sensed the newly minted lieutenant of Thirteenth moving in the same direction, she jumped down from the roof, joined by her most trusted subordinate Inei.

Together the two performed a sweep through the division, making sure not a single artifact was overlooked. Suzume ended her sweep in Hideo’s office, taking the assassin’s teapot, the silver Shihoin cups and even the Maneki-neko. Reappearing in the courtyard, she handed the items off to a shinigami as he was toting artifacts to the safety of their vaults. He gave her a quizzical look and she merely stared back. The items may not seem important to him, but she wouldn’t run the risk of them getting destroyed in this invasion.

As Suzume returned to her rooftop perch, she felt a soft tap on her leg. She glanced down at the mod soul that was informing her about a sticker of some sort. She didn’t know what it was about, but if a captain was sending them out it must be for a good reason, so she lifted her sleeve, allowing the plush creation to place it on the inside of her wrist. Holding her wrist up, Suzume inspected the sticker before shrugging her shoulders. Now wasn’t the time to dwell upon it.

​

 

[GhoulBunny]

The sticker was… perplexing.

Yūgure stared at the odd little design now pressed neatly against the sleeve of her uniform, the edges wrinkled from the slapstick placement. It didn’t match her aesthetic in the slightest—if anything, it looked like a joke. But she smoothed it down without a word.

A tool was a tool. And if this strange Fifth Division measure aided their defense in any way, she would bear it without complaint.

“Miss Shihōin!”

An officer approached quickly—his steps clipped, words urgent.

“New reports—confirmed attacks on the Tenth, the Kido Corps, and now the Thirteenth Division.”

“Shit.”

The air tightened around her like drawn string. They had struck fast—like predators that already knew where the weakest points were.

And then—Kishō.

She knew he was near before he spoke, the heat of his presence distinct even through the chaos of shifting reiatsu. She didn’t turn to face him immediately, not even when he opened with:

“Your cousin is a fool.”

She merely breathed out through her nose.

“He dares to speak to me of treason, dares to give me a mere copy of some ledger, When this small matter in the Seireitei is dealt with, I will return to deal with him.”

Small matter.

Yūgure didn’t flinch at the phrasing. She had no expectation of Kishō Date sugarcoating anything. That wasn’t what she needed him for.

Instead, she turned then

“You’re right. Hideo is a fool,”

She said this thinking about her meeting with her cousin. Her annoyance simmers a little more

“But even fools can hold onto dangerous things. When you do return to deal with him, make sure not to harm my dear cousin. Seriously Date…. But you won’t listen to me anyways.”

Her gaze lingered for a breath longer. Then, she straightened, folding her hands neatly behind her back.

“I assume you heard Lieutenant Michiya’s transmission. The Arrancar have struck at coordinated targets. Tenth, Thirteenth, and the Kido Corps are confirmed hits.”

No embellishment. Just facts. She continued, unwavering:

“Here at Ninth, we’re secure for now. I’ve assigned all active officers into trios—balanced for speed, strength, and communication. Patrol rotations have been launched across the perimeter with fallback orders if engagement becomes unsustainable. No lone agents. Live updates are being routed here directly.”
​

 

[Inkmasterru]

---

As Akemi sat near Kuwashii, she would hear the quiet mumbling coming from her. Standing up, she walk over and place the back of her hand on Kuwashii's forehead. There was no temperature, no damage to her reiatsu at least from what she sensed. It wasn't delirious muttering, but to Akemi it was muttering nonetheless, words that held no meaning to her. Sighing and shaking her head, she walks over to her equipment just as the other girls were finishing their treatment on her body. Picking up the objects along with her Zanpakuto and giving it to Komi.

"Komi, take this to the storage and secure it. I will stay here with the patient and finish the report. The rest disperse to the other patients once you're done with her wounds."

"Yes, Lady Akemi."

The girls bowed and left, just as Akemi heard Kuwashii chuckle, catching her attention as the patient turned her head to look at her Zanpakuto. Gaze following it as it was carried away from her view past the curtains. A single tear rolling down her face, yet a smile glued on her face. What she was feeling was not grief, but elation? It reminded her too much of her brother, the same stupid smile glued on her face after facing Captain Date and Kisho. A annoyed tisk escaping her lips as she sat down next to the patient. Words muttered from her lips akin to scolding.

"Idiots, the lot of you. Fools akin to candles with short wicks."

With a fluid motion she raised her brush to continue her report, when... she felt it. One reiatsu, then a second, a third, a fourth all making her face grow pale. Immense spritual pressures popping up all over. It was no mistaking it, the arrancars have arrived. She jumped up, knocking her chair over, just as she heard the transmission from Michiya.
“Everyone, we are under attack by Espada-level threats that have invaded Soul Society, and from what I can discern, they are targeting divisions. Return to your divisions with urgency and try to bring back as many samples as possible…I repeat, the war has begun!”

Then another...

“This is Captain Shizukana Kurayami! You are all hereby advised to please put on those cute little stickers I gave to each and every one of you! You have a small window of time to do so or you’ll absolutely die! The enemy is here, but we are coming to your aid! Hold out, Give your all and eradicate the Arrancar scourge! Anyone who requires aid send a signal in the sky and we will find you!”

Not wasting anytime, she charged through the curtains and saw the panic boil and about to explode in the medic bay. Greenhorn nurses trembling about to adandon their patients. The same patients not fully healed, attempting to limp out of bed to save their own skin. Some tripping on equipment and people to escape to the exit and out of the med bay. With a deep breath, her chest swelled before she shouted loud, her voice carrying all the way to the outside.

"FIND YOUR GODDAMN SPINES!!!"

Everyone froze in their tracks and looked at Akemi. Even some of the seated officers glared at her after her outburst.

"We are the 4th division, we are no strangers to death. This is what we thrive in and now death is all around us, so we must excel beyond our capablities. While our allies deal death to our enemies, we will be there to bring life to the fallen."


At that moment she will begun to hear another message.

"Everyone, this is Third Seat, Nanami Teishi of the twelfth. If you see any gravely injured shinigami, please bring them towards the Twelfth and Fourth. Please be careful. We have so far detected 4 - 5 Espada level Arrancar, please do be wary"

So she begun to draw her blade from her scabbard and nicked her thumb against it as she started to draw on her forearms.

"Move all patients of low severity and wounds to the barracks. Prepare as many available beds as possible, prep all medical equipment, expect patients of critical conditions to arrive. Set up provisional medbays where-ever possible. All hands on deck, set up barriers to bare any enemy entry, the 4th must stand and we will lay down our lives to ensure it's survival."

Akemi stepped out into the courtyard as the members scattered like ants to their positions. Furfilling her orders and immediately casting barrier spells that would keep enemies out and left allies in.

"Find volunteers amongst the patients that are healed enough to be battle-cleared. A temporary booster to our defenses until reinforcements arrive. Send out small units to retrieve wounded from each respective battlefield, the dead will be retrieved later. Do not allow yourself to be seen and do not put yourself in unnecessary danger. And for the soul-king's sake find Captain Itaku, now!"

The shinigami nodded and rushed off as she spread her command to others. Then Akemi focused as she casted a kido spell.

"Bakudō #77. Tenteikūra:"

This is Tenth seat, Sazanami Akemi of the fourth division. All messages recieved, we at the 4th standing ready for all injuried. Bring them all to the fourth or the twelfth as stated in the previous announcement. Small units will be out to intercept those in critical condition, do not interupt the retrieval process. The quicker the exchange will go, the more lives we will save. Good luck to all and survive, make those arrancar pay for every inch they take."

With the message delievered Akemi sat down in the middle of the courtyard with crossed legs and closed her eyes. Focusing her reikaku as he soared forth beyond that of a mile, which was her passive range. Leaving her a bit vunerable, yet two shinigami of her division stepped forth to cover her.

"Protect me as I ascertain the current battlefield. "

Silence, before...

"Avoid Tenth, Thirteenth, Fifth and the academy. It's still too hot in those places, but be ready to swoop in when the fights are over. You are free to transverse between those divisions, but execise the upmost caution. Now go, go go!"

Akemi opened her eyes as her comrades nodded and rushed off. Leaving her alone as she looked up at the sky. Her hand tapping her hilt as she enjoyed the last bit of quiet, before the shit really hit the fan.​

 

[Nobody]

Itaku stood atop the Barracks of the Fourth Division. Messages and warnings were released via Kido. He closed his eyes, inhaling sharply as destruction took place throughout the Seireitei. It times like this he was thoroughly grateful for his position as a Captain over a non-combative Division. As a healer, it was everyone else's duty to protect them, ensuring that the injured could be properly cared for, that they had a place to bring them.

"Oh-"

A former member of the Tenth Division, prior to both his promotion and hollowfication he had tuned into the direction where the enemy had attacked over there. He says nothing as he faces that direction. As he stands on the rooftop of his own Division barracks, it is as if he is standing among the members of the Tenth Division as well. Through reikaku alone he forms mental images of Kazuki, and Jinnosuke. Clear images of souls who's forms he is somewhat familiar with. Their actions telegraphed via their reiatsu, it is as if Itaku is there among them, watching how the fight unfolds. Though he is unable to form a image of the Espada whom he has never seen outside of a silhouette, he does perceive her actions that result in the untimely death of Kazuki.

"Poor Akemi. I suppose I can expect her performance to drop once she learns of this."

He surmises, expecting the girl to become emotional from the news inevitably reaching her at some point. She always seemed so emotional when Kazuki was involved...or at least so was it reported to him by Kokuren whom he trusted most of all. As he thinks this, he also perceives the inevitable arrival of one such Omoni.

"A step too late. Now where is-"

Captain Izanagi had been strangely absent from his Division, though before long he too arrives. For the moment he turns his head, feeling the Fifth's Captain and not one but two arrancar near her. He lifts a brow in surprise from what he is perceiving through the spiritual vibrations, his focus temporarily moving towards the reiatsu of her Lieutenant engaged with an Arrancar as well. He watches remotely, a happy spectator when-

"Captain! Tenth Seat Akemi is requesting you!!!"

"Seems they found me. tsk"

Having been hiding out, he was regrettably located. He prepares to speak when he notes the heavy gathering of hollow reiatsu near the First Division. He lets out a whistle at the oppressive feeling, and can tell...many souls were going to die. Hopping down he flashes his signature charming smile, teeth sparkling as he pats the shinigami's shoulders.

"Of course! Lets see what she needs shall we?"

He asks, motioning them to lead the way.

 

[Adonai]

---

*THOOM!!*

Something heavy lands in the courtyard of Ninth Division, a hooded figure that catches the sight of the Shinigami who were on the move. The figure stands there, silent and ominous as the clattering of Zanpakuto being drawn around them is heard. Finally the figure speaks, their voice deep and booming.

”I was told to aid another Espada but I have no reason to do so. Such a battle is not what I seek, not while there are still divisions that lay unsieged. Besides, it seems the original plan lay in ruin due to some sort of miscalculation of another Arrancar showing up. But I’ve no need for plans when it comes to bloodshed.”

He speaks about how Valiosa and Antonio are fumbling now that a single wrench has been thrown into the mix. Oftentimes that's all it takes for those who see the future, one oddity to skew it all. This casts doubt on all visions they had of the future since the future they saw could have passed them by or perhaps is in the far flung future, too far for them to even calculate. But to this Arrancar that matters very little as he is a man who only craves battle against Shinigami. A survivor from the Hallowed Wars he was nothing but a mere grunt in those days but he slayed many unseated Shinigami in those days. He was heavily maimed by a Captain and forced to retreat where he remained in isolation for centuries. That is until Valiosa and Antonio found him and gave him a most peculiar gift, a gift whose power is only trumped by the Eyes. The Arrancar pulls his hood off to reveal his face, his eyes white like a void of light and yet he is not blind.

”When I first came to the Soul Society I was nothing more than a footsoldier. I stand before you now as something more, as an Espada. Go, run and fetch your Captain and Lieutenant. I have drunk enough blood of you rank and file soldiers, I wish to expand my tastes.”

The sound of his knuckles can be heard cracking beneath the robe followed by the cloak finally dropping to reveal a rather muscular frame beneath said robe. He begins to stretch and he displays himself to be impossibly flexible, almost beyond reason. He limbers up as he waits for the Shinigami to go run and fetch the Captain, however there is no Captain to fetch. A few Shinigami go to the next best options: Yugure Shihōin and Kisho Date. The Arrancar finishes stretching and looks to his left and then his right at the armed and ready Shinigami around him.

”There was a time where this sight would have had my blood rushing with excitement, the joys of youth I suppose. But now I feel nothing, you all look like nothing more than busy work.”

The boom of his Sonido sends shivers down the collected Shinigami’s spine followed by a sickening thud combined with the straining of a voice as their last meal rushes up their throat and out their mouth. This Arrancar had struck a random Shinigami in the stomach with his fist, hard enough to make them throw up and with enough strength to lift them off the ground and enough finesse to keep them balanced on his fist. Another screams and slashes at the Arrancar, closing his eyes at the moment of impact and he feels it, his blade strikes true! He feels his blade bite and follows through on the strike cutting deeper until the blade bites no more, the strike finished. He opens his eyes with a look of confidence on his face, out of everyone here he was able to act and harm the Arrancar, perhaps he is stronger than he realized! No, he is nothing more than a fool.

What he had cut into was the Shinigami the Arrancar had struck. He merely blocked the cut using his body. The Arrancar tosses the now dead Shinigami to the side and grabs the blade of the other and snaps it. His white eyes peered deep into the brown eyes of the Shinigami who now fell to his knees from fear.

”Go fetch your Captain and Lieutenant. No Miracles can be born from battle of this caliber. I shall wait, but should my patience run thin I will slaughter the lot of you.”

His name is Gallieno and he is the Arrancar who possesses the Heart of the Soul King.

---

​

 

[Nobody]

Kishō stands statuesque, ignoring everything else except for the report regarding the current situation, and even then he focuses only on what he perceives to be relevant; namely the areas that have been struck. As he stands there in silence his eyes shift to one side, the cold from Lieutenant Gekka's bankai while not as prominent for them, is felt even at this distance. It is perhaps only because of the distance between them that it isn't as harsh as it could be. Eyes shift again, this time to the opposite direction, the rumbling of clouds towards the Southeastern quadrant begging the attention of others from afar. It was an odd scene, as the weather didn't seem to call for rain, yet it rained all the same.

What was odd wasn't solely the fact that it was raining, but raining only in one specific region of the seireitei. For those who knew better, they were aware of what this phenomenon was; Kishō was one such individual. He turns his body away from Yūgure, the explosion towards the First Division rumbling heavily, the dangerous amounts of reiatsu emanating from there was staggering. It seemed the situation was quickly derailing well outside of their control. It was just as the Date had both predicted and feared. 'Useless fools.'

"Yūgure Shihōin, you will come with me to the First Division. Have a few of those teams of idiots head towards the Divisions that haven't been struck. If the First Division is being attacked, then it is perhaps the leader of the hollow riff raff seeking to demolish our own leadership."

*THOOM!!*

As he speaks to Yūgure, laying his intentions and plan out for her, the entirety of their Division shudders from the impact of something. Kishō turns towards the direction, and rather rush to investigate he stands there and waits. He hears shouting, hears loud booming and more shouts.

"Tch, how dare they drop their trash at our door."

He is annoyed, as he has already ascertained that an Arrancar has visited their Division, similar to the others. He finds disgust that their ground and air is now contaminated with the stench and touch of hollow, and frustration that his plan to take the head of the enemy's leader is now postponed by a mere hinderance. Several Shinigami come stumbling towards the de facto leaders of their Division, Kishō and Yūgure. Before they can relay the words of the enemy, the Date raises his hand cutting them off.

"Are you members of the Ninth Division or are you the mailman of Hollow scum? If you dare play messenger for a wretched cur from the sands I'll cut out your tongues and cut your throat to ensure you can never speak again."

Open mouths immediately snap shut, the souls now trapped between a rock and a hard place, the fear of the Espada and the fear of Kishō.

"Come woman, let us dispose of this pebble tossed in our way. You lot, tell your fellow mongrels to flee this place or remain and die."

The only warning they will ever receive from him is given as he proceeds towards the direction of the enemy with the expectation of Yūgure to be accompanying him closely.​

---

”Go fetch your Captain and Lieutenant. No Miracles can be born from battle of this caliber. I shall wait, but should my patience run thin I will slaughter the lot of you.”​

The enemy's voice is like thunder, the slain body lay on the ground, further dirtying the place with filth; the filth of the weak and inept.

"Should YOUR patience run thin? Watch your mouth you filthy creature, for I have no patience for you or your kind."

The Arrancar is able to see the approach of both Yūgure and Kishō. The enemy had requested for the Captain and Lieutenant and now here are two strong souls approaching him. The question to them perhaps was, which was the Captain and which was the Lieutenant, as neither soul present seemed to be adorned in the signature haori of a Captain. Suddenly, Kishō comes to a stop, eyes widened. Had he noticed something? Was the enemy far stronger than he had anticipated or, perhaps he somehow recognized the man?

"How could I be so foolish. What have I done..."

His hand came up to his face as if to hold it in frustration, though in this case it was both from frustration and embarrassment.

"To think, I'd even try to exchange words with so lowly a thing...despicable."

The hand covering his face is lowered to reveal a glare before moving to grab ahold of Yūgure by her Shihakusho while his other hand grips Mōshoishi, dragging her from her scabbard as he shouts-

"Ban KAI!!"

The ground beneath them, stretching out in every direction quakes, as glowing ember cracks splinter and web out in all directions. The ground erupts in multiple areas, the shinigami who had already been fleeing the area once word had gotten to them to do so, increased their efforts and hastened their steps in fear of being swept away in the violent eruption of the super heated liquid. Kishō and Yūgure are elevated into the air, their forms growing smaller the higher up they go as they sit atop a massive mountain, able to look out in all directions to see nearly the entirety of their surroundings afar off.

"RAAAAAAUUUUUGGHHH!!!!"

The mountain bellows revealing that it is of course, no mountain at all, its massive body decorated with cracks as lava spills freely from them and its mouth and eyes. The large creature was truly like a living, moving volcano. With the eruption from his bankai, the Espada was certain to be caught up in it, the heat in the surrounding area quickly rising, only growing higher, hotter with each passing moment. One of its massive hands comes barreling down on the area the enemy was at, easily capable of covering not only the entirety of his body, but several meters out around him due to the sheer size of the mountainous hand.

"Mōsho-seki Jichinsai (猛暑石地鎮祭; "Hot Stone Groundbreaking Ceremony", "Groundbreaking Ceremonial Heated Stone"). If I simply destroy it, then it'll be as if I never spoke to it at all."

Unable to come to terms with the fact that he actually spoke to an Arrancar, Kishō concludes that wiping the slate clean would be the best course of action. He would eliminate this enemy and when done, have his bankai carry them over towards the First Division. While aware that Kishō has a bankai, this would be Yūgure's first time ever actually seeing it, the first time for many as the Bankai is now visible to many other shinigami and divisions from afar due to its scale. Him grabbing Yūgure earlier was to ensure she was not swept away by his Bankai and was safe so long as she remained near him.

 

[Adonai]

Slowly but surely Kuwashii awakens in the hospital bed she had fallen asleep in, first its sounds of panicked rushing followed by the sounds of distant explosions. Lastly a tumultuous wave of Reiatsu hits her, sensing combat taking place and loss of Shinigami life. She has no clue what is going on until her mind fully wakes up and realizes that the Seireitei is under attack. That's right, they were on high alert for a potential invasion and today seems to be the day it is happening. She lays still for a moment, letting herself adjust and leave her groggy state while trying to grab specs of information from rushing nurses. From what she can gather there has been a lot of injuries and death around the Seireitei as a whole, then she feels a sudden eruption of Reiatsu nearby or rather in the neighboring Ninth Division. She sits up realizing it's Kisho, her eyes widened from what she was sensing. She had no idea he could use Bankai, given her position in Tenth as guardian she isn’t too privy to information like that. This only further solidifies that she had no hope of beating him.

Her mind quickly shifts off of this as she subconsciously reaches for her Zanpakuto, or rather where she last saw it, only for it to be gone. She frowned for a moment but realized it must have been moved to avoid it getting in the way. Her focus shifts to finding her Zanpakuto, in her mind’s eye it's like following a ribbon all the way to its location, a storage area. She moves her arms, opening and closing her hands ensuring she can make a tight fist with them. She stretches, there is pain but nothing overwhelming or crippling. She was able to mitigate her injuries against Kisho in various ways and it wasn’t until exhausting her Reiryoku that she collapsed. Adrenaline had kept her in that fight but now it seems like the Kaido and salves of the medics have healed her and kept the pain at bay. She sits there, not wanting to be rude and just leave without asking permission but she thinks about what Kisho would tell her, she doesn’t know him well but the way he speaks is harsh and blunt.

”If you can swing a sword you can fight. Probably something like that but with more insults… I’m sick of waiting to be told what to do…”

She waits for her moment and then realizes there is a strange sticker on her cheek, it doesn’t seem like it wants to come off but she ignores it after a few attempts, probably just some sort of medical thing. She continues watching patiently and using Shunpo she assimilates herself into the panicked rushing of nurses. With an all hands on deck situation happening no one notices her moving with them and since she isn’t expelling any Reiatsu no one will be any wiser. She shifts from group to group, making her way closer and closer to the storage area. To her surprise there is just as much hustle and bustle here as well, maybe it’s natural since they will need more supplies than usual given the situation. It doesn’t take long to find her Zanpakuto and once in hand she merges back into a panicked crowd. Once she makes it outside she leaps onto a rooftop, in the distance she can see Kisho’s Bankai, a giant magma golem of some kind. Something that can make Kisho use Bankai must be a powerful foe indeed. She makes a wise decision to let him handle whatever it is and sets her sights on Tenth Division.

She uses Shunpo to leave the rooftop and hurries towards Tenth, she can sense a chaotic swirl of Reiatsu near its location although it is faint. For some reason her Reikaku feels clearer as if some sort of fog has been raised from it. Whatever sort of blockage was in her way before has cleared up hopefully it’s enough to help her division.

[To Southwest Seireitei: 10th Division]

 

[GhoulBunny]

THUD!


The courtyard cracked under the force of the Arrancar’s landing—dust rolling outward in fractured rings. Shinigami shouted, steel drew, and tension surged.


Golden eyes narrowed at the hulking figure as he shed his cloak and called them “foot soldiers.” Her mouth remained a quiet, polished line, but inwardly—something burned.



Her grip on her kodachi flexed, thumb brushing the tsuba as her gaze locked on the Arrancar below. She drew it calmly across her back, smooth and soundless. She was going to answer the insult with action.


But—

​

“Watch your mouth you filthy creature, for I have no patience for you or your kind.”​

Kishō. Of course.


She didn’t flinch when he cut her off, but something catlike twitched in her eyes—a glint, sharp and fleeting, as if her hackles had risen for just a second. She never liked being interrupted. Few dared. He always did.



Still, she let it slide—again. Because it was Kishō. Because if there was one person in the Gotei who got away with it, it was him.



She had other fish to fry than pissing off Kishō Date.

​

“Ban KAI!!”​

The earth erupted. Magma screamed from the ground, tearing apart stone and sky alike. A mountain—not really a mountain—rose beneath them, and Kishō’s hand caught her, yanking her upward before the blast could swallow her.

"RAAAAAAUUUUUGGHHH!!!!"

Her feet steadied atop the living colossus as molten light bathed the Ninth Division. Lava oozed from its fissures. The heat warped the very air.


But Yūgure stood still. Her blade gleamed faintly in the glow of the flames below.


Then, quietly-

“Drink up, Sakegire.”


Her kodachi dissolved midair, refracting into shimmering flecks before reforming around her hands.


The transformation was clean. Matte-grey metal crawled over her knuckles and forearms, sealing over her skin in articulated armor. The gauntlets locked into place, the sharp fingertips settling like talons. From the discreet vent-slits along the knuckles and wrists, something unseen began to exude.


There was no scent. No color. Nothing visible.


Only one target would feel it: the Espada below. And even he wouldn’t notice it right away.


It wouldn’t strike like a blow to the chest or raged on with fire and lava. No—only when he moved—dodged, lunged, twisted to strike—would he notice.


That something was off.


A misstep. A stagger that shouldn’t have happened. His balance faltered, his feet catching air that wasn’t there. His depth perception shifted a hair too far. The distance between his blade and his target warped just enough to throw his rhythm.


It was subtle. Like the buzz before the high. The effects of a drunken haze with no liquor in sight.



And should he adapt—and he might, for a time—it would only be to this dose. This layer of disorientation.



She flexed her fingers once, the gauntlets gleaming faintly against the lava-hued skyline. Her Reiatsu spread with precise control—an expanding, sake-sweet pressure that never touched her allies. It was tailored, sharpened, fed toward only one creature.



Still, even as the warmth of her Shikai pulsed around her, her throat tightened.



Her eyes moved to Kishō. Bankai. It towered. It raged.



And she… still had none.



Not for lack of trying. No one worked harder than she did. But there was never time. Never enough silence. Always another crisis. Another report. Another mess left behind by those too careless to see the damage they caused.



She wasn’t afraid. But she was furious—with herself. She should have had it by now. She should be more than this.



And yet here she stood—mist spreading, blood pounding in her ears—knowing it probably wouldn’t be enough.



Still, she didn’t show it. Not a crack in her face. Only that ever-measured tone, as she looked down upon the Arrancar pacing below them:



“…This one is going to annoy me.”



A pause. Then, sharper:



“And if he’s here for blood… he’ll drown in it.”


Her fists tightened. Her mist spread faster. And then she thought—



You need more. Survive this and you will. Or die trying.​

 

[Adonai]

---

Gallieno watches silently as Kisho speaks to him, there is no white cloak on him, not even an arm band, this prideful individual is not the desired choice of combatant. Above all else this Espada seeks combat against a Captain because he believes that only a Captain or Lieutenant can give him a battle that can produce miracles. Suddenly Kisho seems offended by something, the Espada is hit by a wave of confusion because he does not remember saying anything that would offend Kisho, no, less than that, he hasn’t even spoken to the man yet for him to be so offended. Just as Gallieno was about to respond, the holy words hit his ears, Bankai. His white void-like eyes widen with glee as he witnesses a most spectacular Bankai right before him. A gargantuan monster made of rock and magma roars with its own/wielder riding atop its shoulder, yes, something like this may yet be able to produce miracles.

”And here I was, ready to be disappointed by the slaughter of paltry footsoldiers. While you are no Captain or Lieutenant you just may suffice as a substitute until they arrive. So long as this Bankai is not frail.”

Again this Arrancar speaks as if he knows for certain they have a Captain and Lieutenant, or rather assumes. Kisho may no longer be paying attention to his words or maybe he can’t hear him over the roar of his own Bankai, but maybe Yugure can. Gallieno drips with ignorance and perhaps gives some insight on the knowledge the Espada possess about the Gotei 13, they still believe they are at full strength. This could be one minor advantage the Shinigami have at the moment because if the Espada figure out they are lacking manpower with their Captain’s the tide of this war could turn ugly for the Shinigami. The massive hand of the golem comes hurtling down towards him and as soon as he makes ready to dodge he feels his world tilt, he stumbles slightly and his head turns to look at the one responsible for this, the other Shinigami riding on the Bankai, no cloak and no badge. Beneath his Hakama his calf muscles crawl and contort beneath his skin and then-

*Boom!!*

The hand of Magma slams down followed up by the sound of debris crashing into surrounding buildings. One piece of "debris" was actually Gallieno himself who survived by altering the shape of his muscles to launch himself away from the hand and because of the effects of Yugure’s Shikai he had to propel himself without a sense of control. He wasn’t shaken or perturbed but once the dust settled around him he smiled followed by the sound of a pounding heartbeat that drummed louder than everything else in the area.

Reconfiguration

He raises his arms, the muscles in them begin to contort and swirl as they reconfigure and reshape themselves the same going for his legs as well yet they are hidden from view. His sandals burst as the muscles of his feet reconfigure as well. When the transformation is done it would be hard to argue that the patterns that ripple across his skin is anything short of a work of art. Balance be damned as he adjusted himself to counteract the sense of balance Yugure was throwing off while also adjusting himself to combat the colossus before him. The structure of his muscles were of genius design, someone who not only understands their own body but anatomy as a whole to know peak optimal placement and design. This isn’t some meat head who only knows how to kill and run through walls, no this is an individual with finesse and grace that transcends his appearance.

He uses Sonido and in conjunction with the static of its usage is an explosion on the ground. It's not an explosion of fire and smoke but of sheer concussive force from the strength he is exerting to move. He reappears on top of the Bankai’s head with Kisho and Yugure and Kisho should be the first to notice his arrival since it is his Bankai the Espada is standing on. The sound of sizzling is heard as his bare transfigured feet burn from the hot rock but it does not seem to bother him or even burn through his skin. That ever present pounding of a heart is heard loud and clear by these two Shinigami now. Gallieno takes a stance, one used by Karate practitioners when they prepare to punch downward through wooden planks. This tactic is odd considering he has placed himself in close proximity to two Shinigami, putting himself at a disadvantage as he seeks to bring down the towering monster.

”Riding atop a striding beast is no way to do combat, face me yourselves, cowards.”

He performs his low strike straight to the top of Mōshoishi’s head. The punch is heavy and loud as a shockwave erupts from the punch. The shockwave isn’t anything too powerful, it's more like a gust of wind for the two Shinigami who will experience it. After the punch he stands up straight and remains idle for a moment.

”Your pet beast is impressive, if you were a Captain it would have been even more threatening to me. Mayhaps you wouldn’t have been up here but instead facing me head on if you were a Captain, same for the woman who has attacked my senses. Fear not, I shall not stumble again.”

He speaks with an odd boldness and confidence for someone who has placed himself within striking distance of two violent individuals.

---

​

 

[dem0nzlust]

Welcome to the Madness

"A change of plans, we are assisting the 9th Division. We have no intelligence on this Arrancar."

The power granted to those who controlled information on the battlefield allowed him to quickly adapt and strategize on the fly to act accordingly. Michiya had taken notice of Taro's arrival in the 13th division and the diminished spiritual presences of the two he aimed to rescue. Instead of wasting his time on a lost cause, he needed to make a big play, especially now with the loss of the former Lt, a Bankai possessor and a Captain now. Their side continued to suffer losses, while one battle conclusion had the 5th division come out victorious, although if any severe damage was sustained, that may put her at a disadvantage against her other opponent was left unknown. As the cloth of Sentan Hakuja slowed just enough to allow Michiya to relay that information to Takamura and give him a small moment to prepare and see the new visual feed. With the cloth tightening around the two, Michiya pulled out what appeared to be a strange revolver pistol and loaded up with armor-piercing rounds as he muttered an incantation at a fast but perfect cadence.

In a flash of light, the two were teleported from the 11th division and now found themselves at the battlefield of the 9th division right after Gallieno initiated his attack on Kisho and Yugure. He acted without hesitation as they appeared in the air with barriers created as standing platforms for them, knowing their sudden element of surprise was crucial in this moment. He only hoped that Takamura realized the same, making that small preparation count afforded to him. Michiya aimed at the assailant on top of Kisho's Bankai, firing off six rapid shots with precision at the Arrancar, while in that same instance, the incantation for Bakudo #79 Kuyo Shibari as eight black holes begin manifesting on his target, and seconds after the ninth one on his chest. However, this was just the beginning of what was to come; not to focus his energy on whether the others would exploit this opening, but on taking out his opponent as efficiently as possible. With the mention of "miracles" on more than one occasion, Michiya wondered if this alluded to his ability in Ressurrecion or possibly the Soul King piece he possessed, but instead of waiting to find out, he took Captain Taro's advice and learned from those who had fallen.

"Bankai...Shidarizakura Hakuoki."

The seal on his Zanpakuto was unleashed, releasing his full power he had been storing up, and all the kido he imbued into it daily to empower his Zanpakuto, which allowed him to achieve Bankai in such a short period. His spiritual power didn't flare up, but was contained with perfect synchronization, not letting that released energy be wasted; instead, all funneled directly into the massive tree that suddenly sprouted forth from the 9th division grounds. Someone who fully understood how his Bankai worked and formed a unique symbiosis with his Zanpakuto spirit through countless research, knew how to achieve the most potential out of it in this very situation. The skies around them immediately darkened with a singular, large red eye opening up centered above the massive dead tree. All the energy released from Espada's attacks, fellow shinigami's, and their final release permeated the Seireitei, still getting absorbed into the eye, expediting the growth stage exponentially. Both Michiya and Takamura, if they remained near him, would find a foothold on large tree branches. Blood colored sakura leaves immediately bloomed, with the once dead tree now vibrantly alive, curling around Michiya as he began another incantation with a powerful Hado spell being fueled by his bankai channeling energy into ten energy points that formed around him.

"Limit of the thousands of hands, respectful hands, unable to touch the darkness. Shooting hands unable to reflect the blue sky. The road that basks in light, the wind that ignited the embers, time that gathers when both are together, there is no need to be hesitant, obey my orders. Light bullets, eight bodies, nine items, book of heaven, diseased treasure, great wheel, grey fortress tower. Aim far away, scatter brightly and cleanly when fired."

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Arrival at the 9th Division​