(Soundtrack of Choice: Gekisen)
A cold shiver then ran down Keigo's spine as he suddenly felt a foreboding spiritual power overwhelming his senses before realizing, to his horror, that it belonged to the 5th Espada Grimmjow.
'Heh, so my former superior has finally released it. Oh, how I cannot wait to gain that form myself one day and crush you Quincies and Humans even further!' Grandfisher boasted from the other side of the battlefield.
Which only caused Keigo to smirk. 'If you are already going full out on me. I doubt that even if you had a second release, it still wouldn't be enough to beat me!'
From the overview of the battle. Both fighters looked injured. Keigo was covered in scrapes, bruises, cuts, and the right sleeve of his uniform was torn off revealing his muscular arm. In contrast, Grandfisher took on his resurrection's much more significant form. That turned him into a massive behemoth giant with huge tusks on his shoulders; While his brown fur coat was completely fused into his back and his zanpaktou growing even greater in size.
Yet despite his impressive state, he also sported several wounds on his body. Though nowhere near as much as the ones he inflicted on Keigo, and unlike him, he was not out of breath.
'I will admit, human; you are far more powerful than I you give credit for. But in the end, it is no different than complementing the strength of the world's largest insect to a giant!'
Keigo then narrowed his eyes.
'You have forced me to use my resurrection, a grand feat worthy of praise alone. But that is the limit of your meager Human power, as all of your attacks have done nothing more than annoy me. While all I need is to land one more blow to end you in an instant!'
Grandfisher then readied his blade to attack Keigo.
'If you beg for mercy, I might make your last moments enjoyable before ending your miserable life!'
The full bringer then looked down at himself and sighed. 'Yeah...I guess you are right; maybe this is all I can accomplish not just as a human but as a being in general' Keigo then stared down at Grandfisher with determination. 'That is...if was still holding back!'
Keigo then used bringer flash to get behind Grandfisher's neck, and the Espada, surprised by the sudden speed, raised his hand to block it. Only to widen his eyes further in surprise when the bones in his hand shattered—completely bypassing Hierro's defense.
The Arrancar then yelps in pain. Before trying to swap Keigo with his other arm. Only for the fullbringer to flip himself over it and then kick at its wrist. Which caused the top bones to also break.
Grandfisher once again cried in pain before using Sonido to get away from Keigo.
'What is that!?' he screamed to himself in his head.
'I always assume that his fullbringer was similar to bambettia's, causing or turning things into explosions when he makes physical contact with his fists!'
Grandfisher then looked at the crushed pieces of bone on their right fist and the ones on his left. 'But this...this more than mere explosions. It's as if my very bones collapsed under their weight!'
The Espada then eyed Keigo with concern and though he may never admit it for fear.
'What's wrong?' Asano asked mockingly to the Espada. 'Didn't you say my attacks just annoy you or how my meager human power cannot overcome yours!?' He laughed lightly at the Arrancar.
Which was then instantly replaced with a scowl so menacing that it caused Grandfisher to flinch. 'Don't fucking kid yourself.
Keigo wrapped his arms around his shoulders and stared down lowly at his once superior foe. 'There are plenty of humans like me whose meager power can easily outperform yours, and in comparison, I am just cannon folder, and that not is getting to the Directors and the chair-women of Xcuation'
The giant Espada then growled in frustration at being insulted.
'But considering that Ms. Bambettia is going to get in trouble. I might as well stop playing it safe and end this battle here and now,' Keigo declared as he began to spike up his spiritual power while Grandfisher laughed at him in full-on arrogance.
'End it now, END IT NOW!? Grandfisher screams in utter hatred and defiance. 'YOU ARE A LITTLE HUMAN WHILE I AM THE 10TH ESPADA!'
Granfisher then raised his sword above his head. While also increasing his spiritual power to its peak. As it manifested in an enormous visible red aura of spiritual pressure. That shook the entire building around him to the point that the structure was nearly collapsing in on itself by the sheer density of it alone.
'YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A LOWLY INSECT, AND YOU WILL BE CRUSHED LIKE AN INSECT!' Grandfisher shouted out before swinging down his blade, hoping to split the arrogant human in half.
But Keigo let out a slight smirk before readying himself to unleash the full power of his fullbring.
'His power is at his peak, and he left himself wide open. All I need to do now is the time it right, and it's all over...' Asano mused while preparing his left fist as he channeled his spiritual energies into it. A golden crest symbol appeared on the fingerless glove covering his hand.
However, before the blow could be stuck, the Espada was immediately blindsided by a kick to the left side of his face and hit him with such force that it dislocated his jaw and sent him flying through several walls of the building. Much to both Keigo's and Grandfisher's shock.
The Fullbringer then turns to face the one who delivered the kick. Whose foot was covered in glowing veins pumped with reishi'
'Sup thought you needed some help there!' Ichigo called out to Keigo. Who then eyed Ichigo suspiciously, which caused the soul reaper to sweat and drop in nervousness and reluctantly cased the young man to ready himself for an attack.
'I may not be all that good with a bow, but I have a natural talent for this blunt vein thing. At first, I was only able to activate it by instinct. But after a bit of training in the royal palace and after the war. I can now I can activate it by will. Luckily for me, it was enough to destroy that fish bastard's jaw,' Ichigo thought as he stared at Keigo's seemingly wary look.
'Though admittedly, I used it in hopes it would fool Keigo enough not to suspect anything. He is at least somewhat of an idiot as my world's version of him...but then again, a different world, different people.'
Ichigo immediately jumped back when Asano quickly walked up and placed his right hand on his left shoulder.
'Ichigo...' the fullbringer spoke, and the soul reaper immediately readied himself for the worse.
(Soundtrack of Choice: Dodo Dance)
'Just...WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOU WERE CHANGING YOUR STYLE!' Keigo shouted and whined at Kurosaki, who then shared an expression of utter bafflement.
'I mean if you had just told me you were exchanging bows for fist cuffs. I wouldn't be up on your back so much. Is that why your archery sucks because you have focused so much on one thing you forgot the other?' Keigo continued to complain in an over-the-top fashion with tears in his eyes. At the same time, Ichigo could only chuckle uneasily in relief.
'So, it would seem even in a multiverse of infinite possibilities. Keigo is still Keigo...thank god.'
"Uh yeah, I wanted to try something new and began training with my blunt vein a bit more' Ichigo played along while his friend studied his arm and looked impressed.
'I can tell, I mean think I don't have ever seen your blunt vein this refine before. Most of the time, you specialize in Blut Arterie and shoot from a distance. So, this is a nice change of pace,' Keigo proclaims cheerfully, only for him to immediately drop his smile.
(Soundtrack of Choice: Revelation)
'However, you are needed elsewhere'
Ichigo nearly tripped himself at the sudden change in Keigo's voice. 'Do you want to finish him off by yourself?' He asked, but the brunette just sighed.
'It's not just that, but rather something much more important...Ms. Bambietta is on her last legs' Keigo then looked towards the distance that led to the direction of where the Sternritter and the 5th Esapda's fight took place, and Ichigo himself could also sense it too before he even arrived to aid his friend.
But what was so disturbing to Ichigo was how familiar the Espada's spiritual pressure was and then immediately recalled his fight with Ulquiorra...and then his eye alighted in horror as he realized exactly what the Star Knight faced off against.
'I don't know how Grimmjow got this power of his. But whatever it is, it gave him enough of a boast to overwhelm Ms. Bamabettia, and she is among the most powerful of the sternritters. If she dies, it won't work just Karakara who would suffer but the entirety of the soul society itself,' Keigo explains solemnly. He then stared through the walls where his enemy crashed through, but there was no sign of him.
"I don't think I need to say anymore to convince you to go.'
Ichigo then stared at Keigo before nodding and instantly using Hirenkyaku to move away from the battlefield. Which then caused Keigo to smile.
'It was foolish to make him leave by himself, boy. Had you allowed him to help you, your death could have been avoided a low growly voice echoed from where Grandfisher landed.
'And if he did, Ms. Bamabettia would have ended up dead, and for the record, despite you being an Espada, you are still just the lowest rank among them and thus still small fry' Keigo dismissed his opponent with bemusement while the Tenth Espada merely laughed.
'Perhaps...but what if you Keigo hmm...you who were incapable of saving anyone. When were you but a small, scared, frighted child? When you were utterly powerless to defend yourself, your friends...' Grandfisher spoke out as he suddenly stepped out of the shadows. He was revealing himself with a far more petite figure that took the appearance of a young woman with brown hair like Keigo's and shared a face similar to his own.
The Espada then laughed again some more. Only this time, his voice transformed from a brutish male to a light tone of a female.
'...Or even your sister,' Grandfisher mocked as his fiendish female face then gave a twisted, sadistic grin at Keigo. His heart filled with grim determination, hatred...and shame.