Chereads / Ichigo Awakens / Chapter 72 - The Winter War: Fraccion of the Arrogant

Chapter 72 - The Winter War: Fraccion of the Arrogant

(False Karakura Town)

As the two sides charged toward each other, a massive bulbous thing appeared through another Garganta. Before anyone could process what was happening, the Arrancar and Soul Reapers clashed. Dozens of blades clashed against each other along with the smacks of pounding flesh as fists and kicks struck their targets, all while the massive creature split open and released a massive torrent of blackness that was filled with Gillian masks that soon formed into Gillian soldiers. The swarm was quickly countered by Byakuya unleashing his Zanpakuto's power as his hundreds of thousands of blades tear them apart. Komamura immediately sought out Tousen and singled him out for combat, dragging him away from the rest of the battles with his astral bolas. Yamamoto wasted no time and immediately charged at Aizen with Shunsui and Juushiro backing him up, though Gin intercepted the two while Wonderweiss immediately engaged Yamamoto. Stark lazily jumped around until he was caught off guard by Isshin. Chaos reigned as the forces blend and mixed in combat.

(Baraggon's Fraccion)

Six Arrancar charged at six Shinigami, ready to fight to the death for their king and his ideals while the others fought to defend the world from destruction. As soon as the groups neared each other, a girl cheerfully said 'bye-bye' before eight people were engulfed in black smoke and sent all over the battlefield to have their fights. Homura and Shizuku stood side by side, facing the two Arrancar they decided to fight. Ggio Vega, a slim and youthful Arrancar with a saber-tooth cat skull mask on his head in mandarin style robes, and Nirgge Parduoc, a large and heavyset Arrancar with a thick helmet that had small tusks on the sides.

"So, which one do you want to play with Shizuku?" Homura asked, pulling out her tanto dagger.

"Why let them think it'll be one on one?" Shizuku returned, pulling out his katana. "You know how we fight."

"For fun." The sister returned cheerfully. "Flow, Seikuken!" Homura's tanto rippled like water before curving like a snake's fang with a snake head guard.

"As playful as ever sis." Shizuku sighed. "I think the only time you were quiet was after you went the Kuchiki house when Ichigo had-" He was saying before Homura stomped on his foot, blushing furiously. "Right. Engulf, Moku." Shizuku winced as he spun his transforming sword until he held a long black scythe.

"You really think you stand a chance Soul Reapers?" Vega asked, smirking at the two mockingly.

"A scrawny boy and a girl with no chest to speak of." Nirgge groaned, disappointed in the matchup. "What a let down." The two were about to charge when the siblings disappeared from their sight and only dodged when their primal instincts roared at them to move. They dodged the swinging scythe blade that would've claimed their heads, only to brush with death when Homura spun out from between them and missing their vital neck veins as they dodged again.

"Homura and Shizuku Shiba." Homura said, losing the childish glee she displayed.

"Either switch sides or die." Shizuku continued, pointing his blade at the two. The Arrancar growled and pulled out their blades. "Suit yourselves."

(Findorr vs Ganju)

The noble stood across from a blonde figure with his mask acting as a helmet covering his head and eyes with a chin strap keeping it on. He had large shoulder pads with thigh high boots and knife extensions on his wrists. Ganju glared as his opponent while surveying the surrounding area.

"Before we begin, I want to ask you something." The Arrancar stated. Ganju reached behind him and pulled out his canteen before gesturing for the Arrancar to continue. "What seat are you?"

"Name's Ganju Shiba, third seat of squad 14." The Shiba man answered before taking a few mouthfuls from the container. "Yours?" Ganju returned as he put the canteen back.

"Findorr Calius, Arrancar #24." The Fraccion answered back. "3rd seat you said? Then I'll fight at a 3rd seat's level." Ganju shrugged and pulled out his Asusheika, already in shikai.

"Fine by me." He told the Arrancar, getting ready for combat. "This is where I'm supposed to tell you, 'switch sides and you'll live' but something tells me you'll decline." Findorr merely grinned as he unsheathed his blade.

"Exacta." He said before dashing toward Ganju. The Shiba man smiled before throwing a bag at the charging Arrancar, who slashed it in half and ended up with a face full of red dust. "What the?" He started before coughing up a storm. "It burns!" He yelled out as his eyes began to water under his mask. The only other sensation was something that felt rough and gritty tearing across his waist. He felt another attack coming and dodged out of the way and onto a building. "What... what was that?" Findorr demanded between coughs.

"Shiba style super spicy pepper bomb." Ganju answered, removing bits of cloth from his blade. "I'm not exactly the strongest or the fastest, so I need to make up my lack of fighting skills with clever tricks. I don't exactly play fair." He pulled out his canteen again and drank some more, Findorr recognizing a slight rise in his opponent's Reishi. "I also burn through my energy like no one's business, so I appreciate you giving me the chance to replenish." He put the container away and got ready to fight again. "And I also appreciate you fighting at a weaker level. If you really think that level of power is a 3rd seat, than I might as well be a captain."

"I'd like to say that I'm happy you noticed." Findorr said, his mouth set in a grimace. "I am indeed still holding back and will get much stronger." He began breaking off pieces of his mask until 3/4ths of the mask was removed, revealing a single gray eye surrounded by purple markings. "I would get incrementally stronger, but you said you don't play fair." He flashed in front of Ganju and punched him in the stomach, the dagger piercing into his flesh, before sending him flying through a window in a nearby building. "I'll let you replenish your Reiatsu though." Findorr called out as Ganju got out of the building, bleeding from numerous scratches. "It wouldn't be an interesting fight if you died because you ran out of energy."

(Abirama vs Ikkaku)

"I'm gonna break you!" The Arrancar called out. He had no jacket, only sleeves, and his body was covered in red tattoos with a beak shaped mask resting on his head. "Gonna kill you! Gonna kill you! Gonna kill you!" He kept on yelling in some sort of pre-fight ritual. His opponent on the other hand....

"Lucky, lucky, lucky! Lucky, lucky, lucky!" Ikkaku sang as he did his pre-fight dance. "Me~!" He finished, with his traditional pose, as the two waited for the other.

"What the hell was that!?" The Arrancar yelled, completely perturbed by the bald man's dance.

"That was my 'Lucky Lucky' dance." Ikkaku responded, thinking it was obvious. "I tend to do that when I feel like a good fight is coming my way. I let you do your thing, so what's the problem?"

"My ritual was meant to psych us up! We both shout about how much we're gonna beat each other up to get us in the mood!" He continued, getting more annoyed than anything else.

"That's fair." The lieutenant conceded, understanding the need to get the blood pumping. "Squad 11 members are always excited for a fight, but if this helps you than sure, I'll do your ritual. Just one thing first." Ikkaku said with a smirk. "The name is Ikkaku Madarame, lieutenant of squad 11. Yours?"

"Lord Baraggon's number one Fraccion. Arrancar #22, Abirama Redder!" He shouted, already feeling like he was getting back into the mood. "Now, let's do it! I'm gonna crush you, Ikkaku Madarame!"

"I'll remind you you said that when I'm beating your skull in, Abirama Redder!" Ikkaku shouted back. "So much better when we know each others names, isn't it?!"

"It really is! I'm already raring to go!" Redder returned, feeling restless as his blood pumped through his entire body.

"Let's do this!" Ikkaku shouted as the two charged at each other. Abirama threw a punch, Ikkaku swung his sheath. The greater reach granted to Ikkaku won him first blood with a loud crack. The two separated, though Ikkaku kept up the offensive, still aiming to strike down the Arrancar who took a few more hits. Soon Ikkaku jumped back when Abirama started shaking, chuckling in amusement.

"I should've joined you in that dance of yours. Cause now I feel lucky." Redder said, bearing a more manic smile. "Scalp, Aguila!" He shouted as a torrent of wind wrapped around him for a few seconds before two large, red wings revealed the changed Arrancar. His mask completely covered his head, feathers covered his body, and his hands and feet gained bird like claws. "Let's have some fun Madarame!" He cried out as he took flight.

"With pleasure!" Ikkaku called out before slamming sword and sheath together. "Extend, Hozukimaru!"

(Charlotte vs Yumichika)

"Okay, okay!" A drag queen Arrancar sang while doing 'stylish' poses and clapping. "His majesty, lord Baraggon's, number one Fraccion is here! Charlotte Chuhlhourne!" He had long, wavy, black hair, large glossy lips, and blue eyes with his mask as a tiara. He wore a loose pants with a small white top that exposed much of his body. Charlotte was about to continue, until he noticed that his lone audience member had his eyes shut.

"Silence please." Yumichika said, unsheathing his Zanpakuto. "I'm communing with my Zanpakuto."

"Fine." Chuhlhourne said with a pout. "But that was rude, ignoring my beautiful entrance like that. Though I guess it's fair, being taken by the sight of one as lovely as me." He said, just as he was impaled by six beams of light.

"Bakudo #61, Rikujokoro." Yumichika said, after casting the incantation quickly and quietly. "Actually, my Zanpakuto and I were talking of how ugly you were and that it would be best if you became fertilizer instead." Now the annoyed pout was replaced with shock and rage.

"Ugly!?" The Arrancar yelled out. "How dare you-!"

"Bakudo #37, Tsuriboshi." Yumichika interrupted again, throwing a ball of blue light that wrapped around the Arrancar's mouth and solidified into a tight mask. "Normally I'd fight without Kido, but I feel the need to end this quickly. Tear in frenzy, Ruri'iro Kujaku." He unsheathed his blade and released the glowing vines of his sword's true shikai, wrapping around the helpless Arrancar and sprouting the buds of the soon to be flowers. "Goodbye and reincarnate as something truly beautiful this time." The Shinigami said as the Arrancar felt his life being sucked away.

(Poww vs Amagai)

Amagai stood across a tall giant of an Arrancar, easily towering over him and every other Soul Reaper. The mask was a plate going across his square jaw with two short horns jutting from the edges with some odd green triangles on his cheeks. His uniform was more stylized in a Chinese fashion with no discernible Hollow hole or Zanpakuto.

"You are... really big." Amagai said, trying to get a read on the stone faced Hollow.

"Indeed." The Arrancar agreed, looking down at the lieutenant. "Are you really my opponent?" Amagai offered a friendly smile.

"Shusuke Amagai, lieutenant of squad 14. You're welcome to check for yourself." He offered, something the Arrancar seemed to like.

"Very well." He said, raising fist to strike at the Soul Reaper. "I'm Choe Neng Poww. Arrancar #25. And this is my punch." He threw his huge fist at Amagai, which Amagai easily deflected and returned his own into Poww's stomach. The force of the attack actually pushed the Arrancar back a bit.

'Hmm, I think I'd best end this quickly.' Amagai thought as Poww started laughing.

"Not bad considering your size." He said with a grin. Amagai continued smiling.

"That was actually a force of habit." He said, unsheathing his Zanpakuto. "I used to be part of the Onmitsukido, where martial arts were mandatory. It looked like you just had power behind your punch instead of any technique. Shame, I was hoping for a challenge." Poww's grin was slowly growing into an annoyed sneer.

"Is that so?" He asked pulling out his Zanpakuto from inside his sleeve, something that was like a toothpick compared to the wielder.

"Yep. Bankai." Amagai said as a wall of flames surrounded the pair. "Raika Gouen Kaku." His Zanpakuto took the form of a large red hook blade with jagged edges on the inside and a large white shell covering the hilt. The red of the blade was glowing red with heat as fire spewed out of the shell. Poww, was stunned with disappointment.

"Bankai? That is your bankai?" He asked, sounding let down after hearing about how impressive the final release was supposed to be.

"Yep." Amagai replies, his blade already in Poww's body before he knew what happened. The blade heated up as the pain stunned the Arrancar from moving. "Goen Ryuga." Shusuke said as one by one, geysers of flame burst out from all over the Arrancar's body. Choe Neng Poww didn't even have time to scream as he was consumed by the flames and turned to ash. When it was finished, Amagai reverted his blade back to normal and sheathed it. "Sorry captain Love. I still relied on my bankai."

(Ikkaku vs Abirama)

Ikkaku was happy when he got his opponent, thinking he found a kindred spirit that longed for the thrill of combat. After his captain learned he had bankai, he demanded a rematch from his lieutenant that ended without leaving a scratch on the Kenpachi. Said it was fulfilling the promise from their first fight to have a rematch and ending the last fight he expected to have until his and Ichigo's next rematch. Not to long afterward, he begged his captain to train him to become a lieutenant worthy of the Kenpachi. He was happy to make progress under his captain's brutal tutelage and happy that he found something that lived for the thrill of combat like him. He was disappointed and furious as Abirama Redder only fought at a distance with steel like feathers shooting down at the bald lieutenant.

"Is this really the fight you were talking about!?" Ikkaku yelled at his opponent, dodging another barrage of steel feathers. "Was all that talk just hype!?" His words gave Redder pause, just as he was about to unleash another strike.

"I said I was going to crush you!" Abirama returned, yelling at the same volume. "What's wrong with how I fight?"

"You got me all excited for an up close and personal battle, the furious dance of death as we swing our blades at each other!" The lieutenant explained, resting his staff on his shoulder. "How can that happen if all you're doing is shooting your stinking feathers down at me!? You're not a real warrior! You're a coward!" Abirama actually flinched before seething in anger.

"I am no coward!" He roared defiantly, getting ready to fire another barrage at Ikkaku.

"Then get down here and prove it." The Soul Reaper simply said, once again giving the Arrancar pause.

"Fine, I'll do that." He said, before stabbing himself in his chest markings and tracing their patterns. When finished, he began to glow with power before another pair of wings burst from his back. "Get ready, cause I'm coming for you Ikkaku Madarame." He said with silent fury.

"I plan on it. Bankai." Ikkaku returned with his own quiet anger while summoning his bankai and enveloped in the whirlwind as red energy flowed around him. He soon held the triple blades of his final release and was ready to charge when the dragon pulsated and completely filled. 'Hozukimaru? Everything alright?' He asked his Zanpakuto as he got ready to fight. The only response he received was the red cackling energy dragons roaring at Abirama. 'Talking a big game but none of the skill to back it up and none of the guts to actually put himself in danger? Yeah, that'd do it. Reminds me too much of my damned faults.' Ikkaku conceded as he filled himself with power. "Ryumon Hozukimaru!" He roared, feeling his earlier excitement return.

"Come at me Ikka-!" Abirama roared as he charged toward the Shinigami, only for Ikkaku to fly past him and slicing off Redder's wings with his Guandao. Abirama gasped in pain as he felt his wings and primary weapons sever from his body. He slammed into the building and through a couple of floors before landing on another building. He pushed himself up as all of his excitement was replaced with fear, now seeing that he was at a disadvantage, as Ikkaku showed up in the building. "Wait! I heard that Soul Society is recruiting! I'll switch sides!" He pleaded before Ikkaku charged and slammed his spade into Abirama's chest, cutting him in half.

"We don't have room for cowards." Ikkaku returned as he undid his bankai and letting the two halves of the Arrancar fall to the ground. "Man, I was really unlucky today." He said as he left his opponent to die.

(Ganju vs Findorr)

The fight was not going well for the Noble. Findorr decided that he had enough of Ganju's tricks and bombs and released his Resurreccion while removing most of his mask. The result gave him two lobster pincers, the right one being huge while the left was little more than a gauntlet. The 3rd seat was bleeding from numerous cuts and missing a chunk of his arm after getting hit with some high pressured water blasts. But, the Arrancar did keep his word and let Ganju take a break to drink from his canteen. That's where they currently were, Findorr standing strong and Ganju taking the last mouthful of his canteen.

"Out of whatever you've been drinking?" Findorr asked, smiling at the idea that the annoying ant could finally be crushed. Ganju gave his canteen a few experimental shakes to confirm that it was truly empty. Through his blood loss hazy eyes, he surveyed their surroundings.

"Yeah, we might as well end this." He admitted, sticking his canteen on his back. "I know I don't deserve this, but you mind if we settle this man to man in an honest duel?" He asked, taking note of some parts of a building falling apart.

"And why should I?" Findorr demanded, glaring at his opponent who held out his arms.

"Out of bombs and it's only a matter of time before I run out of Reishi." Ganju said, sounding pathetic. Not hard when he was already bleeding to death. "Do whatever you want afterward but let me die a man with some honor." He pleaded as he jumped down to the streets and held his Zanpakuto out, ready to fight. Findorr sighed as he landed across from Ganju.

"Very well, you sorry excuse for a Shinigami." The Arrancar said as he leveled his pincer. "I'll grant you that." Before he could charge, the ground gave way beneath him in an ever expanding pit made of sand. Within seconds, he was trapped in the very center and buried to his chest with more sand pouring in from the side. "You said you were out of tricks! That you wanted to die with honor!" He roared in anger, swinging his arms in an attempt to free himself.

"I said I was out of bombs." He heard Ganju reply as he appeared at the edge, looking down at Findorr. "I never said I was out of tricks. You should've seen this coming."

"Was anything you said to me the truth!?" Findorr demanded as Ganju straightened out, as if he finally had a chance to catch his breath.

"Yeah. I do burn through my Reishi very quickly and I do rely on tricks and traps." Ganju admitted. "My Zanpakuto can create and manipulate sand, but doing so is taxing in proportion to the amount of sand I'm controlling." He explained as the pit expanded to the bases of two tall buildings, causing them to buckled and collide. The pieces that fell off landed in the pit and collapsed into more sand, making Findorr's eyes widen. "Yep, you guessed it." The noble said with a smirk. "You've been surrounded by my sand since we came here."

"Since the start of our fight?" The Arrancar asked, a creeping sense of despair climbing into his head.

"Since this replica town was made." Ganju returned. "I've been chugging a Reishi restoration potion for over a week, waiting for this chance." He dispelled his shikai, sheathing his Zanpakuto and letting the entire city block collapse into sand. Ganju barely escaped with Shunpo, while Findorr's screams were silenced in the avalanche. "Sorry to do it that way. Getting buried alive is nothing short of horrific." He said before pulling out a flare and lighting it. Then he collapsed.

(Homura and Shizuku vs Ggio and Nirgge)

Ggio and Nirgge were already in bad shape, even with the power of their Resurreccions. Ggio's had a more tiger esque pattern with squared blades at his wrists and another attached to a ponytail he grew. Nirgge became a green elephantaur, though he still had his normal head he did also have a long trunk while his helmet had more pronounced tusks. Enhanced speed, enhanced strength, did not aid them too much when they were unable to predict the movements of their opponents.

"Damn brats!" Ggio yelled, slashing at Homura who faded into black smoke just before the blade could touch her. He saw a wisp of smoke forming above him and dashed toward it, expecting to catch his prey at her most vulnerable. It wasn't until he was within arm's length did a building fall out of it, trapping him underneath it as it fell to back to the Earth. Shizuku was decidedly less playful than his sister as he swerved and dodged every swing made at him and countering with another slash.

"You scrawny bastard!" Nirgge yelled, swinging his trunk at Shizuku who twisted around the appendage and hooked his scythe blade underneath it and leaving a nasty gash. As Nirgge clutched his nose in pain, Shizuku disappeared in black smoke and reappeared on a building some ways away from the Arrancar and was soon joined by Homura.

"Why do we have to be so weak!" Homura complained as Ggio broke free from the rubble he was trapped under. "All we're doing is lightly cutting them. Big sis Kukaku would be frustrated if she saw us now."

"I'm sure she knows that captain Ukitake wanted to prioritize our ability to channel Reishi." Shizuku reminded his sister of their tutelage under the kindly captain. "Besides, haven't even used our Hollow masks yet."

"How about we go further?" Homura asked, looking over in the direction of the other Shiba clan member. "Big bro Ganju already finished his fight." The boy looked to his sister, already understanding what her plan was.

"Alright, but who should fight?" He asked before Homura hugged him. "Very well. I promise I won't be long." He said as the pair were engulfed in the black smoke and the rise in Reiatsu alerting the two Arrancar. The two wasted no time charging and firing their Cero, only for them to be hit by a blast of dark energy as Shizuku stood tall with his skull mask over his face. The next instant, he was between them and swinging his blade. Nirgge dodged while Ggio slashed, but was intercepted by the shaft of the polearm weapon like Shizuku knew the attack was coming. Growling in fury, Ggio's canine fangs on his mask pointed to Shizuku and fired like bullets to the Vizard, who leaned back to dodge and kick off Vega's chest. As he flew back, Nirgge caught him in a death grip bear hug and began to crush the Vizard.

"This is the end!" Ggio yelled as he charged a Cero, Nirgge bracing himself to take the blast to ensure their enemy gets vaporized. As the blast of energy closed in on the pair, Shizuku teleported out of Nirgge's grip and reappeared behind the Arrancar. The Fraccion took the full blast of his ally's attack and when the Cero blast died down, he swung his scythe and sliced the mammoth in half before releasing his own energy blast at the apex of the swing and striking Ggio. The saber-tooth Arrancar fell to the earth and landed with a crash. Shizuku looked down on his fallen adversary and used his power to teleport several more buildings above him and dropped the many tons of rubble down on the Arrancar. Black smoke engulfed him again and the siblings were two people again.

"Whew, that takes a lot out of me." Homura panted as the exhaustion hit the pair.

"We should get out of the way and recover. We're no good to anyone as we are now." Shizuku advised as they made their way to Ganju.