(Squad 15 base)
"So what are looking at here Hiyori?" Lisa asked as her old comrade came out of the monitoring room to join the rest of the squad. With the arrival of the Arrancar, squad 15 was being sent out to assess the threat and damage control. Data gathering for preparations against the next attack.
"Six Arrancar, one is clearly in the range of the two that came before and the other five are far weaker." The foul mouthed Vizard answered. "Comparing Reiatsu puts this group as one Adjuchas and five Gillians." The exited the small shop as the grunts dispersed to do their jobs. The Vizards looked up to their captain and fifth seat preparing for their battle against the invaders. "If I had to make any bets, I'd put my money on our guys." She said, fully confident in her allies. "Our ladies on the other hand..."
"Lack the same kind of strength and experience?" Lisa asked, already knowing the answer. "Shall we clean the rust off our swords then, Hiyori?" The two looked at each other before smirking.
"Let's see how they do before we rescue them." The tomboy suggested before turning toward Orihime's direction. "I'll save the princess." She said before disappearing with her shunpo, leaving Lisa to watch the fight alone.
(Orihime vs D-Roy)
"Who are you?" Orihime asked as she quickly shifted into her fighting stance while the Shun Shun Rikka swirled around her. Her opponent snickered madly, showing a sadistic delight in the coming fight. Or, in his mind, his brutal killing of a weak little girl.
"D-Roy, Arrancar #16!" He yelled out, charging at the barrier maiden with the intent of cutting her down with his hands. "No need to introduce yourself, you're going to die!" Orihime narrowly dodged the swing, caught his wrist and belt line of his hakama, and threw the Arrancar into the wall.
"Koten Zanshun!" She yelled out, shooting Tsubaki at the Arrancar. The result was the small sprite hitting the Arrancar like a baseball. The impact was there, but it didn't pierce his flesh. Tsubaki returned to his master's side while the Arrancar got back up. Orihime hid it, but she was starting to get nervous. She still didn't like fighting, preferring to be the main healer, and ended up neglecting her training since she and her friends invaded Soul Society.
"Focus!" Tsubaki yelled at her. "Our powers are supplied by your will! Now get that fighting spirit!" As he said that, the Arrancar was getting back up, rubbing his stomach where Tsubaki hit him.
"I actually felt that." He said with a grunt. "How about I return the favor?" He grinned as he unsheathed his blade and charged again.
"Shiten Koshun!" Orihime called out, creating her reflective barrier. The moment his blade touched it, the kinetic force was pushed back and he got a small cut on his face. 'Looks like that works. Time to bring that out.' "Kenten Koshun!" She held out her hand as the sprites realigned into a sword. She did a few swings and twirls to refamiliarize herself with the blade. "Let's try this!" She defended as he struck again, only to meet the same results as before. He attacks, she defends, the force is reflected back at him and he gets injured. After a while, she is exhausted while he is covered in small cuts and bloodied, but not tired.
"That's it." He growled, no longer smiling. "I'm done playing." He removed the bandage from his right eye and revealed a charging ball of energy. Orihime braced herself, ready to change her sword to a shield when she heard a familiar yell.
"Don't just stand there, dumbass!" She heard Hiyori yell as a sandal flew past her and slammed into D-Roy's face. Then the Vizard herself appeared in front of the Arrancar, who was stumbling back for the unexpected footwear fastball, grabbed her sandal and whacked the Arrancar into the air with it. Disregarding the alter Hollow for the moment, the monkey girl then turned her attention on Orihime. "What the hell princess!?" She yelled at the timid barrier maiden. "You do realize you're in a street right? With houses on either side that people live in correct?" She demanded, making Orihime nod like a frightened child. "Then move the fight so others don't get involved!"
"I had it handled." Orihime defended, standing up to the shorter girl. Hiyori had the nerve to look amused.
"No princess," She said as D-Roy reappeared with a powered cero blast ready, "this is handling it." Hiyori quickly reappeared next to the Arrancar with her Hollow mask and Zanpakuto out, decapitating D-Roy in an instant. Orihime watched the cold execution in shock, feeling her stomach turn at the killing of something that looked so human. "You're still too gentle, too soft. Work on that so you don't burden the rest of the squad." She gathered up the remains so she could preserve the former Arrancar for Kisuke and Mayuri's experiments. "You're a seated officer, act like it." She said before disappearing, leaving a stunned Orihime just before she vomited up her dinner.
(Chad vs Edrad)
"My name is Yasutora Sado." Chad said as he stretched his arms and cracked his knuckles. "Fourth seat of squad 15. You?" The larger Hollow smiled in anticipation.
"I'm Arrancar #13, E-" He paused suddenly, almost as if he just considered something, "never mind. It'd be a waste to give my name when I'm just going to kill a lowly fourth seat." He said, smirking confidently at Chad.
"That's rude, but fair." The Fullbringer said before appearing directly in front of the Arrancar and slammed his fist into his face. With a resounding crack, he was sent flying into the distance and onto a deserted road. As he was tumbling and rolling, Chad caught up to him and punched his head into the ground, leaving a crater and him embedded into the earth. He groaned as he slowly opened his eyes, only to see a foot stomping on his head. After a few stomps, Chad grabbed the Arrancar's ankle, yanked him out of the hole and slammed him face first, making him bounce off the asphalt, before punching him in the chin and sent him flying again. "Since I'm going to be killing a lowly Arrancar." He said before activating his Fullbring, the armor covering his arms. The Arrancar got up, spitting out a couple of teeth and blood while parts of his mask fragment fell apart. "I think I've shown to be able to punch through your Hierro, so shall we try this again? I met a man who said it was a courtesy to give your name before a fight."
"Very well. Awaken, Volcanica!" He called out, holding his blade horizontally before it turned into light and shot into the ground. The area around him erupted into a pillar of flame as bits of magma attached themselves to his arms, reforming into massive arms with protrusions on his shoulder and exhaust holes in the middle of those protrusions. "Edrad Liones. That is the name of the Arrancar that will kill you, Yasutora Sado." He saw Chad's shocked expression and chuckled. "This is what happens when Arrancar release their Zapakuto, their Ressurrecion. We gain back our abilities and our former forms, increasing our power far beyond a Soul Reaper." Chad met his opponent's gaze with a glare.
"So this is the peak of your power?" He asked, surprising the Arrancar. "Then I suppose I've got nothing to worry about." Chad then charged his arms with Reiatsu, taking the form of electricity around his left fist and fire from his right shoulder. "Because I haven't reached mine yet."
"Is this your Shikai?" Edrad asked, clenching his fists in anger at being underestimated.
"Edrad, I'm not a Shinigami." Chad said, pulling his fist back. "I'm a Fullbringer." They charged at each other, concentrated Reishi against concentrated fire, and when they met, they exploded furiously. Intense waves of heat hit Chad constantly while Edrad's arms slowly crack and break. Eventually Chad began to weaken as he felt his flesh burn from the volcanic heat of the Arrancar, something Edrad began to notice.
"It doesn't matter if you're a Soul Reaper or not," he said before punching a tunnel of flames at his opponent, "you will still lose here." The fires died to reveal a smoking and badly burned Chad, breathing heavily from his attacks. "Thank you for the fight, Yasutora Sado. I'll remember you fondly."
'No.' Chad thought in defiance, remembering his promise to friends. 'I am the unbreakable shield of the frontlines. I protect my friends!' He focused on those memories and desires until he exploded, forcing Edrad back from the sheer force. As the dust settled, Chad's right arm resembled a shield and a long spike protruding from his left shoulder. "This is the end Edrad." Chad said before charging at the Arrancar again. He raised his arms to block, but the cracks were spreading and bleeding. "El Directo!" Chad roared as he slammed his right fist against the large white arms and destroying them like loose, dry clay and leaving Edrad to be hit with a torrent of energy. The Arrancar dropped to his knees as Chad readied the final strike, electrical Reishi cackling around his fingertips of his left hand. "La Muerte." He whispered as he punched Edrad just below his Hollow hole, leaving a skull imprint on the ground behind him. The Arrancar coughed up blood as he felt his insides turn to mush, letting out a weak laugh.
"I'm glad I heard your name... Yasutora... Sado." He said before falling dead to the ground. Chad watched his fallen foe for a couple of seconds, offering a silent prayer to the dead, before his squad members recovered the body and took him back to the base.
(Tatsuki vs Nakeem)
Isshin and Tatsuki watched the two Arrancar as the grunts of their squad went about to minimize and undo the damage of the fights occurring around them. A series of large flashes and differing Reiatsus colliding with one another gave a sense that the fights began and some were more questionable than others. Orihime and Chad were holding their own, Uryu seems to be playing, and he stopped checking on his son, confident that he would be fine. The Hollows made no move to attack the other Soul Reapers, focusing only on the seated officers.
"Tatsuki, you fight the big guy." Isshin ordered the girl, making her look at him cautiously. "He's the weaker one. Don't worry, you'll be fine." She was about to say something before deciding to go with her captain's command. Isshin jumped to meet the Arrancar on level air to talk better. "So, are we exchanging pleasantries before we try to kill each other?" The long faced Hollow smirked, confident that their side would win.
"I suppose we should give the courtesy before we kill you." He said with a polite little bow that was clearly condescending. "I am Shawlong Koufang, Arrancar #11."
"Nakeem Girndina, #14." The larger Arrancar said in a low tone, before descending to stand in front of Tatsuki. Isshin turned his attention back to the helmeted Arrancar.
"Captain of squad 15, Isshin Kurosaki." The captain responded. "She's Tatsuki Arisawa, my fifth seat. So how does this numbering system work?" He asked, keeping his cool. "Strength? Order of creation?"
"Yes. To both." Shawlong responded. "The top ten Arrancar, the Espada, are ranked by their power while the rest are numbered by the order of their creation." He smirked, expecting to crush the captain's will with his next statement. "Aside from the Espada with us, I'm the strongest Arrancar." Isshin responded, with a deeply disappointed sigh.
"Really? That's a bummer." He said, with a bored look on his face. "I'm going to get rusty if all I fight are weaklings and do that stupid paperwork. Those weird guys in that mansion were just not the warm-up." He turned his attention to his 'future daughter' and elected to watch her fight. Shawlong grew furious at the blatant disregard of him as an opponent.
"You should nev-" He started, attempting to cut Isshin down from behind, only to feel an elbow knock all the air out of him.
"I don't need to release my seal against you." He said before knocking the man out with a swift chop to the neck. "I'm trying to watch the fight, so shut up." He focused on the battle, the fireball dancing around the large Hollow with grace but it looked like he was outlasting her.
"Take this!" She yelled out, coating her arm in Reishi fire that did burn the Arrancar, but he powered through it to strike at her. He thrust his palm at her, she twisted out of the way and slammed her elbow into his gut. He stumbled as she flipped to kick him in the face and deliver a fiery fist to her enemy. He was enveloped in the purifying flames and when they faded, he was nowhere to be seen. During the attack, he used his Sonido to get behind her and kick her into the ground. She tumbled on the ground and got into a kneeling position, just in time to block another kick. She grunted against the pressure, but she took the small window to calm herself and focus on her power. This was her first lone life or death struggle, and she refused to fall. She took a breath and flexed her body, releasing a strong pulse of Reishi and strengthen the flames in her hands and feet.
"What the-" Nakeem asked as he stumbled back. Tatsuki kicked his knee directly in the joint and proceeded to pummel him with her burning hands and feet.
"Burning Assault!" She yelled out as she threw her fists out rapidly, creating a snaking path of fire with small fanning bursts with every strike. After a few hundred strikes he was standing in a daze, drifting between conciseness as Tatsuki panted from exertion and punched him one more time. "Fireball Strike!" She yelled as she buried her fist in his gut and turned him into a fireball until he was flat on his back, barely alive from the abuse. Behind him was Lisa, who unsheathed her blade.
"Smash, Haguro Tonbo." An instant later, a large blade similar to a monk's spade cut off Nakeem's head. The blade was as long as his torso with a staff too long to properly wield. Lisa was dressed in her sailor outfit and a look of business on her face. "My apologies for cutting this short, but the other fights are wrapping up and our sensors recognize another powerful signature coming this way. We need to retrieve as many 'samples' as we can." She explained as Isshin came down. She bowed respectfully to her captain before sealing her Zapakuto and carrying his body away. Tatsuki stared in shock by the ease that Lisa handled the matter and the brutality of killing.
"Before she became a Vizard, Lisa was a lieutenant." Isshin explained to the surprised martial artist. "After that, she only grew in strength and ability. Same with Hiyori. In terms of ranks, they should be either third at most and fifth at least." He spoke with no sense of humor in his tone, letting Tatsuki take in the expectations he made in making her the fifth seat. "We're facing war Tatsuki. Are you ready for that? You can't expect to spare your opponents like before."
(Uryu vs Yylfordt)
Uryu disappeared in a burst of speed, appearing far overhead of the Arrancar, and released a barrage of fast but weak arrows. The Arrancar dodged the attack and met his opponent in the air, exactly as Uryu wanted. The two enemies glared at each other while standing in the air, the Arrancar already unsheathing his blade while Uryu had his bow at the ready.
"Uryu Ishida, 3rd seat of squad 15." Uryu said, keeping his calm as he conjured a few bolts.
"Yylfordt Granz, Arrancar #15." The blonde Hollow replied. "I'll be killing you, brother." He readied his blade while Uryu scowled viciously.
"Do not use such familiar terms with me." He pulled his bow back. "It's disgusting." He released the bolts and began to jump around, forcing his opponent to twist, turn, and block rapidly, almost dizzily to keep up with the Quincy. "If you want to stand a chance, you have my permission to do whatever Shikai knock-off you Arrancar have." Granz glared at the arrogance of the Quincy but smirked, believing that Uryu's arrogance will be his undoing.
"If you're in such a hurry to die, then skewer! Del Toro!" The Hollow called out before armor coated his upper body, looking like a bull's head and torso with long jagged horns. "You regretting your choice now brother?" He asked, ready to impale Uryu with his horns. Uryu merely raised an eyebrow, confused that this is supposed to intimidate him.
"Huh, neat." The Quincy said before hold out his bow and shifting it to an intricate design that is unrecognizable as a bow, more like a framework for stained glass. He held the bow to his side casually before shaking it slightly. "Toro, toro." He called out lazily, making Yylfordt grit his teeth.
"You still mock me?!" He roared as he charged, crossing the distance in an instant. He was fast, but not fast enough.
"Yes I do." Uryu said, just before twisting around the charge and letting his opponent run off harmlessly. When Yylfordt turned, Uryu was goading him on once again. This repeated until he managed to clip the bow with his horn, making the Quincy spin into a collision with the bull until he rolled off the large beast.
"Not so funny now, eh brother?" He mocked, ignoring a slight pain in his back. Uryu righted himself and merely continued his actions. He payed for it by getting his weapon clipped again as he spun over the Arrancar. He turned back to see Uryu abandon the shield bow for a pair of silver and black rods that gained blades of black and blue Reishi. It was then that Yylfordt recognized what Uryu was doing. During his spins, he shot small arrows into the Arrancar's back. Now was time for the next stage. "What do you think this is brother!?" He yelled in fury.
"A bullfight, obviously." Uryu said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. 'I've been spending way too much time around Ichigo.' He thought as Yylfordt made one last charge.
"That's not funny!" He roared, intent on skewering the Quincy that was humiliating him. But before he even got close, Uryu was behind him and his head was no longer attached to his body.
"Indeed." The Quincy conceded, reattaching the rods to his belt. "I was bored from the start." The Arrancar fell dead to the ground and Uryu focused on the two figures still fighting. "How long are you going to play Ichigo?"
(Ichigo vs Grimmjow)
The two already began their fight. The moment that introductions between them was over, they were fighting. Ichigo already released his first limiter and they were only fighting with their martial arts. Grimmjow was a street brawler, hitting hard and hitting fast and using his ability and instinct. A better street fighter than Ichigo was used to, nothing he couldn't keep up with. As it was, they were more for getting a feel of the other's ability. As Grimmjow felt his Fraccion drop one by one, he decided to kick it up a notch.
"Hey, I prefer my fights to be one on one." He suddenly said after they separated for a bit. "So don't go asking for help." Ichigo matched his opponent's glare with the same intensity.
"You think I'll need help kicking your ass?" He said, just before they both drew their blades and clashed against each other. Sparks flew from their swords as they resumed their battle, the ringing of their blades echoing throughout Karakura. Grimmjow grew more and more angry with the calm look Ichigo had on his face, like he was in control this entire time. That he wasn't even exerting too much effort, and it was pissing him off. He was a king! The strongest! He knew he made the right call to try to assassinate him, but he was doubting he was capable of doing that. "I think that's enough of a warm up." Ichigo said, jumping back and swinging his blade a few time. "You going to use that... what did that guy Chad fought call it? Ressurrecion?" Grimmjow was furious with the casual ease Ichigo was taking this, but he'd match that game.
"Tell ya what. You break that second limiter, and maybe I'll let you see mine." He goaded, letting his arrogance get the best of him. Ichigo merely shrugged.
"Suit yourself." He said before appearing before Grimmjow and kicking him in the side of the head. The Arrancar was sent flying until Ichigo appeared before him and struck again, repeating the process until it became like a bizarre game of pinball for the hybrid. Eventually, Grimmjow was able to lash out with his blade. Ichigo, believing in his defensive ability, tried to catch the blade with only his Hierro protecting him. There was noticeable resistance but the blade cut through Ichigo's left hand, leaving only his thumb. Ichigo jumped back to assess the damage while Grimmjow took pleasure in the small victory.
"You're powerful, but it looks like I can still cut you." He said with a grin, despite feeling battered and beaten. He watched in shock as Ichigo regenerated from the injury.
"Momentary lapse in judgment." Ichigo said, testing his hand. "You won't get another chance. Sensei is going to be pissed with me." Grimmjow raised his blade and placed his hand along the midpoint, like he was about to claw his sword.
"You want my Ressurrecion?" He asked in a low growl. "Fine! Grind! Pan-"
"Ah ah ah~." A mischievous tone called out. "That's enough fun Grimmjow." Grimmjow froze as he slowly looked behind to see the ever smiling Gin, wearing a new white Hakama. "I don't believe Aizen gave you permission to launch this attack." Grimmjow was about to say something something, but Ichimaru opened his eyes very slightly freezing both him and Ichigo with the silent intimidation. "Though, this assault may prove useful yet. It's clear our ranks could use some, obedience training." He said, leaving the threat to hang there. Wordlessly, Gin flicked his wrist in the air and opened a Garganta. Grimmjow sliently went into it while Gin's smiling face meet Ichigo's scowl, before he started laughing. "I must admit Ichigo, it's amusing to see the ever cool Aizen lose to his anger. He is not taking these losses well. Being tricked with the Hogyoku, your growth, and you made expendable soldiers into needed assets by how much his calculations came off." He said, losing himself in a fit of giggles before stopping suddenly. "Remember, he knows how to hurt if needed." He said without his smile as he disappeared through the portal. Ichigo stayed there, watching the double agent fade from this world to the world of Hollows.
"That was unsettling."
(Urahara Shoten/Captains Meeting)
"In the fights our squad members took part in, we got a better idea of the current strength and ability of our Arrancar enemies." Isshin informed his colleagues through a video connection. Ichigo was standing at his side, as was his privilege as the Captain Commander's student. "It can be safely assumed that Arrancar made from Gillians are well below the average lieutenant. Unfortunately, that may change in the future if Aizen figures out a way to improve them."
"Well, we can take a look at the possibilities after we get those bodies your team recovered." Urahara informed them, already thinking about the possible experiments to come. "Time for the grittier side of science."
"We are at war, we can set aside and worry about our morals when we are at peace." Yamamoto said, a small tone of weariness bleeding through the strong voice of the commander. "Ichigo, join the team in escorting the bodies. You'll be staying in Soul Society for a while."
"Yes master." Ichigo said, bowing to his teacher. "Can I ask why though?"
"The time has come, for your wedding to lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki."
(Illustrated Guide To Soul Reapers!)
Post Orihime Fight
D-Roy was stunned from the sudden sandal slap and was simply standing in a daze. Hiyori Stood on the other side, ready and waiting.
"FINISH HIM!" A dark, ethereal voice called out. Hiyori summoned her Hollow mask and was instantly at D-Roy's side, quickly decapitating him with a swing of her blade. "HIYORI, WINS. FATALITY!" Orihime was watching from the other side, tears in her eyes.
"But, this was supposed to be my fight."
Post Chad Fight
Chad stood over his fallen foe, offering his silent respects when his phone started vibrating. He checked the caller ID and smiled at his friend's name. He opened the phone, connecting to Keigo.
"Do it." He said, turning on his phone's speaker.
"Y'ALL CAN'T HANDLE THE MOTHER FREAKING, CHAD!" Keigo yelled out enthusiastically. "Chad's so hot, Volcanica's flames can't burn him!"
"How did you even know that?" Sado asked, not expecting an answer.
Post Isshin... Fight but not fight
Isshin pulled his elbow away as the Arrancar, Shawlong fell to the ground unconscious. In front of the captain came a small game screen saying, '+500 XP. You gained, a rusty dagger.' Isshin looked at the screen for a few seconds before sighing dejectedly.
"This loot system sucks~!" He whined.
Post Tatsuki Fight
Nakeem was about to stomp on Tatsuki's head when a wide blade cut him in half horizontally.
"Surprise spear!" Lisa called out with a triumphant smile. "It's a spear you didn't know you wanted!" She was still smiling as Tatsuki got up, walked over to the Vizard, and threw her over her knee before spanking her with a heated palm. This left the Vizard a twitching mess on the ground, whether from pain or pleasure was uncertain.
"Damn killstealer."
Post Uryu Fight
Uryu looked over the headless remains of his opponent, deep in contemplative thought. Wondering the most damning question of all time.
"That's it." He said with finality. "I'm having hamburgers for dinner."
Post Ichigo Fight
Chapter Closes. Author ran out of ideas for this one.