'Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!' I cursed in my mind as I stared at Mayuri, who pulled me out of the rubble before a wheeze escaped my lips as I got thrown across the pathway and into the opposite wall.
"Absolutely wondrous work here. I try to touch it and it repels my very touch. Yet, when you touch it, it welcomes your embrace. It's almost as if you made your own Zanpakuto," I just watched the man from where I was lying on my side, thankful for the fact that he was more interested in the staff than I.
"Ah, right. My apologies for forgetting about you Tell me, how is it that you are able to manipulate the reiryoku of Hollows and use it for your spells?", Mayuri asked as he walked closer, but I kept quiet as I closed my eyes while taking a deep breath.
'I can still move my face and tense my chest. My limbs and neck however are completely shut off,' My gaze was focused as I watched him draw near, thinking of the quickest strategy out of this as the Shinigami knelt in front of me.
"I would try to take some of your blood, but you are protecting yourself thoroughly with your barriers. To think that a human could wield such power. Perhaps…it's the Hollow energy granting you these capabilities."
'Almost…', I thought with ragged breathing as he grabbed me by the shoulder with one hand, lifting me so that I was sitting up against the wall while lifting my staff with the other and having an excited gleam in his eyes.
"Oh, I must dissect this thoroughly when I'm done with you. Imagine the possibilities! The capability to combine Hollow and Shinigami powers into one weapon without actually being of either species! Truly, a masterpiece of evolution!"
"O embers…of the sun…flesh veiled in…an unyielding embrace…Howling wind…ash dance…a inferno's wrath…becomes one…"
"And now you are muttering something. Is it perhaps a prayer?" He asked as he lifted me by the hair, a sadistic and amused grin on his face.
"You…talk too much," I was barely able to spit that out and his eyes widened before they narrowed with sadistic glee.
"Oh, ho! You still have some spirit left in you! Intriguing. Most intriguing!"
'Come on, body. Just one finger. That's all I needed,' I thought with a glare as I continued to flow my energy through my body, trying my best to destroy the toxin in my body.
"What's this? Are we trying to regain control?", He asked while stabbing into my leg and I gritted my teeth to stifle my scream as I felt more poison flowing through my body, Mayuri grinning as he leaned forward.
"You see, my Ashisogi Jizo's poison is quite peculiar as you can feel. Your mouth can still move and your face is still capable of making expressions, but you are unable to move your limbs while still having sensation in them. It's my own lovely form of paralysis, but I wonder…what if I increased the dosage? Would that paralyse your brain? Perhaps force you into a coma?"
'Hah…'
"Ah…Hahahaha~ Hahahahahah~!", I couldn't help it as laughter escaped from my lips, Mayuri's grin fading slightly as he let go of my head and forced me to look at the ground.
"Huh, may I ask what is so funny?", He asked before I watched his eyes widen as I slowly looked up, meeting his gaze with a grin while a thread of my spiritual energy connected my hand to the staff.
"Hollows can heal, bitch. Hado #26:Fukumen!", My hand reached up and grabbed his arm right as a flaming aura covered my body from head to toe, Mayuri screaming as my grip tightened before he himself ripped his arm off.
However, he did not escape unscathed as I ripped off his right arm once again, slowly standing up with a soft chuckle while twirling the staff in my grasp.
"H-How?! Y-You! You insignificant cur!", He growled as he took out a needle before his eyes widened as a barrier surrounded it, another trio of barriers surrounding the both of us as I raised my hand.
"Hado #33: Sokatsui!", Instead of just using my own Reiatsu this time, I surprised Mayuri by pulling on the Reiryoku of the sceptre instead, the Hollow skull's eyes lightning up before a swirling vortex of black and azure flames rippled through the path.
Mayuri managed to escape as he used a Flash-Step to get out of the way, but he was once again hurt as his left arm was burned fiercely, the Shinigami now looking caught between excitement and rage as he growled before lifting Ashisogi Jizo with a glare.
"If I was not enraged by your actions, I would be more excited about the spell you just used, vermin!"
"You were the one who wanted a demonstration. I never said it was one you were going to enjoy!", I exclaimed with a grin as my body was now fully healed, Mayuri's frown now replacing his grin as I levelled my sceptre towards him with a smirk.
"Now, Mayuri Kurotsuchi! The Spirits Are Forever With You so it is time for you to join them in their dance!"
"Spirits?! Hahahahaha~! Oh, my dear test subject! The only spirits with me are those I've experimented on and you…are going to join them soon."
"Bawahahahah!", I must surprised Mayuri with the sudden personality shift as I laughed at the top of my lungs, but I just felt my confidence soaring as I let the Don Kanonji personality take over.
"You seem remarkably spirited for a worm that's about to be killed."
"Ha! You've clearly never faced the Don Kanonji before! This is but a minor inconvenience on my quest to purify souls!"
"Perhaps your long-term exposure to Hollow reiatsu has eroded your brain away…or perhaps you are simply stubborn by nature," He muttered and I frowned slightly as he raised his sword towards me, his Reiatsu filling the air before he raised an eyebrow as I threw my head back with a cackle.
"Ahahahaha~! Bear witness, all, for the Hero of Karakura shall be vanquishing an evil foe once again! Bakudo #37:Tsuriboshi!", The moment he rushed towards me, a massive energy cushion in the shape of a star appeared in front of me as its elastic threads stuck to the walls around us and stopped his attack.
"Trying to create distance?!", He muttered as he pointed a finger at me, the sparks of electricity on his finger already showing me what Kido spell it was as I tapped my sceptre against the ground.
"Hado #4: Byakurai!/ Kanon'Cape!", The energy of the Reimyaku below us shot up and took the form of a fluttering cape right as Mayuri's lightning bolt tore through my Bakudo spell.
The Shinigami raised an eyebrow as his spell impacted mine, expecting it to push through only to be surprised as I grinned and shot it back at him.
'You're not the only one with tricks, Mayuri! Kanon'ball!', The Kanon'Cape flickered before shattering into a dozen pieces, each quickly crushing itself into the form of a sphere that shot towards the Shinigami.
Mayuri was quick as he moved around a few while parrying the others, but he wasn't prepared for the explosion that came from each the moment he even touched them.
"Gah!", I heard him grunt as one exploded in front of him and I didn't give him chance to recover as I thrust my staff forward, the Hollow reiatsu gathered at the tip of it flaring before unleashing a powerful Cero directly at the captain.
"Carriage of thunder, bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six. Bakudo #61: Rikujokoro!", The chant and spell flew from my lips before I even saw Mayuri leaping out of the smoke, a burning glare in his eyes as his entire left arm was completely gone.
The moment I caught sight of him, the Shinigami grunted as he was frozen midair by six thin sheets of light slamming into his midsection, Mayuri glaring at him as I still kept a finger pointed at him.
"Heavy chains of judgement, woven from the iron of the heavens. Bind the limbs, crush the will and deny all escape! Bakudo #63: Sajo Sabaku!", Instead of creating the chains from nothing, I surprised Mayuri as I grasped on the ends of the light sheets before twisting them into thick chains that wrapped around the Shinigami.
"Bankai:Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo!", Mayuri growled as his Zanpakuto fell to the floor and I was already chanting as I watched the demon baby-caterpillar slowly forming.
"Fate of Three Sparrows, Fate of Four Dragons, Enclosed on Five Sides, Unable to return to six ri. Thousand ashes with a thousand wisdoms of the white cloud's plan. Close to the moon, vengeances hungers yet not stepping onto the shadow of scarlet. Winds gather yet do not touch the cane of Elm. Flower Crane Launch…", As I watched the demon baby slowly falling onto me, swords growing out of its chest as it led out a loud wail, I gave a soft smirk as a golden sphere of potent spiritual energy gathered above my head.
"Golden Kan'onball!", The sky roared as a pillar of golden flames shot upwards, erasing all in its path and utterly eradicating Mayuri's Bankai as nothing but dust slowly fluttered down.
However, I was not done as I held up a hand to Mayuri, who finally had a slightly panicked look in his eyes while my Kyumonbarriers flared as I felt Nemu trying to tear it down.
"Pierce the Void, converge and ignite! Fragments of light coalesce and form! Gather the power of a thousand stars! Shatter all who stand before me! Hado #70: Genshikodan (Atomic Light Bullet)!"
"Master Mayuri!", I heard her scream right as her hand pierced the last barrier, but it was too late as the spiritual energy of the Reimyaku below us as well as the reishi in the air gathered in front of me in the form of a pure white sphere.
The next second, the world cried as a beam of scorching plasma shot through the air and right through Mayuri's chest, the Shinigami's eyes widening as the beam went right through him and continued on.
Creating a barrier around him, numerous Kan'onballs appeared around him before I exploded them all in rapid succession, not letting up until I finally felt his spiritual energy vanishing.
'H-Holy…Holy shit…', My legs were weak and I was barely able to stand as I fell to a knee, but I felt nothing but joy as I watched Ashisogi Jizo's burned hilt fall to the floor while the blade slowly turned to ash.
'N-No! No, I…I can't rest. Not until…I make sure…', I thought with a frown as I slowly pushed myself up, using my sceptre as a walking stick while making my way to where I could feel Nemu's energy behind the rubble.
"Please~ Please, no~", I could hear her crying whispers as I made my way around the rubble, deciding to say nothing as I stared at the head that was slowly blinking and fading away.
It looked as if he was saying something and I wanted to say that he was most likely just fading away, but as the last of his head vanished along with Nemu's tears increasing when his spiritual energy vanished, I felt utter shock and joy as I fell backwards with a pained grunt.
I…I actually beat a captain.
'Holy shit, I actually killed one of the biggest monsters of this universe. Yet…maybe she did not see him that way,' Slowly pushing myself back up, I made my way over to Nemu, watching as she simply cried while still kneeling.
"You…you killed him. Master Mayuri…he's gone…", Staring at the sobbing girl in front of me, all lost and broken, I almost felt bad for taking Mayuri's life and leaving her without a purpose.
Almost.
"He was no master. He was a monste-!", I gagged as a hand wrapped around my throat, her grip weak even as her eyes blazed with a burning agony.
"You…do not call him that. He…he created me…and gave me a purpose. He was everything and you took him!", I just kept my breathing slowly as I held her gaze, which surprisingly did not hold any hatred towards me
Slowly reaching up and taking her hand off, I softened my gaze as I gently held her hand.
"He always saw you as nothing more than a tool. Do not mourn him. He does not deserve your tears. You deserve more than that, to live for yourself now."
"Then what…what do I do now? Without him, I have no purpose, no reason for existing," Her voice void of emotion nearly made me break as I sighed, a bitter smile tugging at my lips as I slowly took the vial she was holding.
"Live your life as you please, Nemu. Freedom can be terrifying, but it's better than living as someone else's puppet."
'If I remember correctly, Mayuri always had Nemu carry an antidote for his poisons,' Popping the cork from the vial and slowly tipping it into her mouth, I made sure she swallowed half of it before drinking the rest of it for myself.
After all, my body may have taken care of most of the poison, but it never hurts to have some added security.
'With Mayuri's death, though, that's a bigchange to the canon story. Squad 12 is now without a captain, the Gotei 13 are going to be taking us more seriously and who's going to take care of that Espada guy?…Eh, not my problem.'
"I have to go get back to my friends. Will you be alright?", I asked, waiting before shaking my head as Nemu simply stared at me with deadened eyes.
"Take your time. Find your path whatever it may be. You're no longer just an experiment, Nemu. You are now finally…free. May the Spirits Be Forever With You." I spoke with a smile before walking past her, a barrier sheet forming under me before I grunted as I took off into the air.
Time to go rescue Orihime and Uryu.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The air of the 1st Division felt humid as an elderly man stood in the middle of a large room, his desk empty and sorted perfectly while a silver-haired man, his lieutenant, knelt besides him with a frown.
"Report." Captain-Commander Yamamoto's voice echoed in the large room, his tone soft yet commanding and cold despite the rising heat of the room.
"Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi of Division 12…has been killed in battle." Sasakibe, lieutenant of Division 1, spoke and his voice held a hint of unease as the room was silent for a brief moment.
"Explain."
"During the conflict with the intruders early this morning 0100 hours, Captain Kurotsuchi engaged an unknown ryoka combatant wielding a sceptre infused with Hollow reiatsu. The battle resulted in the captain's death-"
"How certain are you of this information and his demise?" Yamamoto interrupted his second-in-command, his voice firm and steady as Sasakibe took a deep breath before continuing.
"Division 12's surveillance confirmed it, sir. The captain's reiatsu vanished entirely and his Zanpakuto was found destroyed at the scene. Division 12's lieutenant Nemu Kurotsuchi was also found at the scene and after intense investigation from its seated officers, they have all confirmed that he was indeed killed during battle."
"A human ryoka…killed a captain of the Gotei 13?" Despite Yamamoto's calm tone, the sound of his grip tightening on his cane was enough to make Sasakibe flinch slightly at the sound as he gave a slow nod.
"Yes, sir. There is also something else, sir."
"What?" Yamamoto asked, his squinted eyes opened slightly to show the fierce intensity burning in them as Sasakibe spoke.
"We have found some of Captain Kurotsuchi's surveillance footage and found that the ryoka was the same one who infiltrated the Kido Corps and he has shown not only usage of advanced Kido spells…but also the ability to use Hollow-based techniques such as High-Speed Regeneration and Cero."
"Dispatch a squad to recover Captain Kurotsuchi's body and investigate the area thoroughly. If the human ryoka is found and he is truly responsible for this, he must be found and dealt with accordingly."
"Yes, Sir!" Sasakibe bowed before he stood up and hurried out, Yamamoto's gaze never wavering as he looked out at the empty space in front of him while the air around him crackled.
'A human wielding such power…That cannot be overlooked. If he like him wishes to upset the balance of souls, then I as Captain Commander must make sure that he does not become a threat like he did.'
A/N: And we end off the first part of the Soul Society Arc~! Massive change in the timeline with Mayuri's death and with it, the Soul Society now takes the entire ryoka situation far more seriously.
If you guys want, I can extend the fight somewhat to make it more hard-earned, but hey~! The Don's now got a captain on his list of victories.
Like always, you can go to my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories & even some that haven't been released out to this site yet. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next chapter,
Ba-Bye~!