10 advanced chapters on my Patreon: Fiction Haven
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Just as the battle on the other part of the building concluded, another was about to start. Unnoticed by Kenpachi was the Privaron Espada Dordoni Alessandro Del Socaccio sneaking behind him. The Arrancar had a mischievous grin on his face that contrasted his otherwise intimidating appearance.
"Ken-chan, someone is sneaking behind us."
"Ah?"
Dordoni's heart skipped a beat as Kenpachi stopped and glanced behind. Dordoni was confident the pink-haired child perched on the Shinigami's shoulder didn't notice him. He didn't expect her to suddenly turn around and point at him. Kenpachi's intimidating appearance also added to his nervousness.
However, he wouldn't be the most elegant and fear-striking Dordoni Alessandro Del Socaccio if Kenpachi's face was enough to scare. Dordoni straightened up and gentlemanly coughed to his hand.
"Kuhum!"
Kenpachi fully faced Dordoni. The battle maniac quirked an eyebrow, unintentionally causing the Privaron Espada to freeze.
'This man is scary,' Dordoni mused inwardly. Keeping a stoic face, he gracefully said, "W- Welcome to my humble a- abode."
Well, he tried his best.
"Ken-chan, is he stupid?"
An invisible arrow struck Dordoni in his chest. It took everything for him not to keel over and weep. Children rarely have a filter. They say whatever they have in mind. Dordoni had expected Yachiru to be kinder, though.
"I don't think so," Kenpachi frowned. "He seems to be retarded," he shook his head.
"I can't believe someone dressed so uncouthly dare assess me that way," Dordoni retorted with a twitching lip.
Kenpachi shrugged. "First victim."
Kenpachi drew his Zanpakutō, pointed it at Dordoni, and grinned bloodthirstily. Yachiru leaped off Kenpachi's shoulder, causing Dordoni to quirk an eyebrow. Dordoni was about to open his mouth when Kenpachi appeared in front of him. Kenpachi swung his Zanpakutō, causing Dordoni's eyes to widen.
Swish!
Unfortunately, Kenpachi failed to hit the Privaron Espada. Kenpachi frowned before turning to the left. He found Dordoni holding Yachiru by her scruff. The petit lieutenant tilted her head and blinked, puzzled to find herself off the ground.
"You should have kept the child with you," Dordoni intoned.
"Nah."
Dordoni frowned at Kenpachi's nonchalant response. He thought Kenpachi was either acting tough or an asshole. That was until Yachiru twisted her body and delivered a roundhouse kick to his head. His body slid across the floor as Yachiru returned to Kenpachi's side.
"You are right, Ken-chan. This one is retarded."
"T- That was a good kick, young lady," Dordoni groaned as he stood up. "No wonder—"
"Shut up and swing your sword."
Dordoni was interrupted by the grinning Kenpachi who appeared before him. He quickly drew his Zanpakutō and blocked Kenpachi's. The force behind Kenpachi's Zanpakutō made his feet skid. His arms felt slightly numb due to the impact. A laugh escaped him as he realized he was in a pinch.
"Very well. I shall return the courtesy."
Dordoni poured more Reiryoku into his muscles, increasing their strength tremendously. His arms stopped shaking, causing Kenpachi's grin to widen. Dordoni matched the grin. The fight excited him as much as it did Kenpachi. They pushed each other away. Dordoni sent two Bala from his palm at Kenpachi. In return, Kenpachi split and redirected them with his Zanpakutō.
He made the tilted corna sign with his hands, positioned them on the side of his mouth, and fired a Cero at Kenpachi. Despite his confidence in his power, Kenpachi still dodged the Cero. Using Shunpō, Kenpachi met Dordoni and traded blows. Dordoni caught up well but was quickly losing ground.
Slash!
Kenpachi's wild swing ended the trade abruptly. It threw Dordoni's Zanpakutō upward and carved a deep gash on Dordoni's chest. Kenpachi swung his Zanpakutō down, forcing Dordoni to take a hasty step back. His Zanpakutō struck the floor, carving a trench in it. Dordoni couldn't even grimace before Kenpachi appeared before him and delivered a solid kick to his bloody chest.
"My, my, my; a brutal one, aren't you," Dordoni sighed. He poured Reiryoku into his wounded chest, forcing the wound to close up. "Quick regeneration is not my forte, you know. It takes a lot of energy to do that. Ah, are you wondering—"
Kenpachi Shunpō before Dordoni, Zanpakutō aiming toward Dordoni's neck.
"You yap a lot, Arrancar."
Swish!
"My, what an impatient person."
Dordoni tilted his head, allowing Kenpachi's Zanpakutō to whizz past him. Kenpachi grinned. Dordoni had never been that fast. On the one hand, he was excited that his opponent was strong, but on the other hand, he felt insulted that his opponent was holding back.
"I was waiting for you to use your Bankai, but I have underestimated you. I will show you my true power," Dordoni intoned. "Whirl, Giralda."
A thick Reiryoku cocoon encapsulated Dordoni, prompting Kenpachi to step back. When the Reiryoku cocoon disappeared, Dordoni was already in his Resurrección Form. His mask framed his face, his shoulders gained a pair of horns, and armor covered his lower body. Kenpachi's grin almost split his face. The intense Reiatsu pumped him.
"Cyclones!" Two enormous cyclones escaped from the exhaust spouts on Dordoni's armor, causing him to float. At the end of each cyclone was a bird skull. "El Uno Picotear."
One of the cyclones went toward Kenpachi, opening its beak. Kenpachi lodged his Zanpakutō between its beak, allowing it to push him back but not immobilize him. Kenpachi poured more Reiryoku into his hand and swung his Zanpakutō fiercely. The cyclone split in two before dispersing.
"Ave Mellizos."
Dordoni wasn't fazed. His cyclone reformed and produced several bird-like extensions. The extensions went for Kenpachi, forcing him to dodge and parry. At one point, Dordoni got in front of Kenpachi and kicked him on his forehead. The kick sent Kenpachi across the room, planting him into the wall.
Dordoni posed ridiculously before sighing in disappointment. He looked at Kenpachi who slowly stood up, still with a mad grin on his face.
"That was a good kick, weirdo."
A frown marred Dordoni's face as he noticed something felt different. The eyepatch covering Kenpachi's eye was gone. As soon as the realization hit him, Kenpachi's intense Reiatsu did too. Dordoni's eyes widened as Kenpachi appeared in front of him. He put his cyclones before him but still failed to protect himself.
Boom!
Kenpachi's swing still sent Dordoni into the wall. In a matter of a second, Dordoni was doing what Kenpachi just did, albeit bloodily. Dordoni shook his head to clear the disorienting feeling. As soon as it cleared, Kenpachi's pummel hit his head. His mask shattered. His Resurrección Form reverted as his Zanpakutō was resealed.
Dordoni didn't even realize what was happening while he slid across the floor. His clarity only returned after Kenpachi pinned him to the floor with his Zanpakutō.
"I see. So this is it, huh?"
A wry smile flashed across his face, followed by a mirthless chuckle. In the end, he couldn't disprove Aizen; he was weak.
"That was quite a fight. You are strong but not enough."
"Thank you." Despite the lack of empathy, Kenpachi's statement brought a smile to Dordoni's face. "Do it. You have earned—"
Stab!
Kenpachi's Zanpakutō pierced through Dordoni's head, killing him instantly.
"A weirdo till the end."
Kenpachi smirked but not condescending. He respected the Arrancar enough to kill him instantly.
"You had fun, Ken-chan?" Yachiru Shunpō to Kenpachi's side, bringing his eyepatch.
"I can have some more," Kenpachi shrugged as he took his eyepatch and wore it.
Leaving the cold corpse behind, the two ventured deeper into Las Noches.
…
Before Kenpachi's fight approached its climax, Byakuya, Renji, Pesche, and Dondonchakka encountered Gantenbainne Mosqueda, the 107th Arrancar, formerly the Septima Espada. The Privaron Espada found interacting with Byakuya pleasant given their similar personality. In other words, they enjoyed staring at each other silently while gauging the other.
"Psst, is Mr. Model scared? Why is he looking at that Arrancar like that?" Pesche whispered to Renji not so quietly.
"What are you talking about, weirdo? Captain is just gauging him," Renji retorted irritatingly.
"We want some action. Why is he not attacking?" Pesche whined.
"Why don't you?" Renji snapped.
Due to his irritation, Renji failed to see Gantenbainne coming at him.
"Uno!"
When he registered Gantenbainne was before him, Renji was already lifted into the air by Gantenbainne's punch. As Renji registered the pain, another punch drove into his stomach.
"Dos!"
Then, ninety-seven more followed suit. Byakuya wanted to help Renji, but thanks to Gantenbainne's speed and their position, he couldn't attack Gantenbainne without injuring Renji. He could only watch until Gantenbainne finished his technique.
"Cientos!"
The end came when Gantenbainne punched Renji into the floor, shattering it. A Byakurai came at Gantenbainne as soon as he straightened himself. Gantenbainne managed to get away using Sonido, but the Hadō still charred his shoulder. Byakuya glanced at the groaning Renji before meeting Gantenbainne using Shunpō.
As Byakuya clashed with Gantenbainne, both trying to be faster than the other, Pesche carefully knelt beside Renji and poked him. Renji harrumphed and glared at the Hollow.
"You asshole! If you hadn't bothered me, I wouldn't have gotten hit," Renji snarled.
"Hey, it was your fault for getting distracted," Pesche defended.
Renji was mad enough to forego his pain, get up, and put Pesche in a head choke. Pesche kicked and trashed, begging Renji to spare him. Meanwhile, Dondonchakka tried his best to pull Renji's arms off Pesche's neck, but to no avail. Byakuya shot a stressful glance at his lieutenant. He didn't need help but couldn't believe Renji could be so lax.
Boom!
The trio's farce ended when Gantenbainne assumed his Resurrección Form. The intense Reiatsu drew their attention.
"Rugir del Dragón!"
An orange beam taking the form of a dragon shot at Byakuya.
"Bakudō #81: Dankū!"
He blocked the beam with a shield of vacuum.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura."
The fight ended when he counterattacked.