--------------------------------------------------------------------
I opened a Garganta and looked down over the sky above Karakura Town. It was deep in the night, and the only lights in the village were the street lamps illuminating the roads. To any observer, it looked like a peaceful town, but unfortunately, it was about to become the stage for a grand war.
“After dealing with Kisuke Urahara and Shinji Hirako’s lot, the battle against the Soul Reapers will take place right here in Karakura Town.”
Ultimately, Karakura Town was destined to serve as the heavy spirit concentration zone needed to forge the Ouken. Thus, it didn't matter if it was destroyed. The location itself was what held value. Contrary to my pragmatic thoughts, Is seemed eager to fight already.
“Then, let’s go.”
Whish.
As Is moved via Shunpo, we followed suit. Right now, focusing on the primary objectives was paramount. Regardless of what anyone said, the opposition consisted of the Soul Society's greatest Kidō master, a genius possessing the ultimate intellect, and the woman known as the Goddess of Flash.
“My, we certainly have some dangerous guests tonight.”
Is had been gathering intelligence on the Urahara Shop for a long time, so finding it was trivial. Moreover, it was as if the opponents had expected us; they were already standing outside.
The man greeting us wore a green and white striped bucket hat low over his eyes. Though his mouth wore a smile, his eyes gleamed with a cold light. His name was Kisuke Urahara.
“It appears so, Kisuke-dono.”
Beside him stood Tessai Tsukabishi, bearing the appearance of his former role as the Grand Kidō Chief, watching us with a heavy, somber expression.
“It looks like tonight won't be a boring one, Kisuke.”
Finally, there was Yoruichi Shihoin. She stood there in her trademark orange jacket over her specialized Stealth Force gear. All three individuals we needed to eliminate were present outside the shop to meet us. Even though our Reiatsu had likely been detected the moment we crossed over, their response was impressively swift.
“How interesting. You could have run away, yet you’re here to welcome us in person. Should I call it overconfidence? Or are we being underestimated?”
Vrooooooooom!
As I spoke, I let my Reiatsu flare. I could see the expressions of the three go stiff—a satisfying sight. Usually, I keep half of my spiritual pressure suppressed. There's no grand reason for it; I simply don't like how the atmosphere turns freezing cold under my presence, and Tibel didn't particularly enjoy it either. After all, my Reiatsu is saturated with the essence of Death.
“Hahaha, overconfidence or underestimating? Let’s just call it being foolish.”
“Foolish, is it? You always were one to humble yourself.”
It was Is, not I, who replied to Kisuke. Just like in the original story, the two of them shared a rivalry of sorts. While Is looked at Kisuke with a seemingly calm gaze, there was a sharp, underlying hostility within her eyes.
“Well now, I’ve never thought of myself as humble. Furthermore...”
“If you intend to waste time with idle chatter, I’d suggest you stop. Though, to be honest, it doesn't really matter. Thanks to you appearing like this, you’ve saved me a great deal of trouble.”
I cut Kisuke off before he could speak further. To be frank, I find Kisuke Urahara more bothersome than even the Captain Commander. One can never predict what variables might emerge from that genius brain. That is why I want to clean up this genius before the final war erupts.
“Let us begin.”
At my command, Ulquiorra faced Tessai, Is moved against Kisuke Urahara, and I stood before Yoruichi Shihoin. I didn't care what Kisuke had prepared. It wouldn't matter. Because I didn't come here unprepared either.
“A pleasure to meet you, Yoruichi-dono. I am the Primera Espada, Lucifer La El.”
“What a funny lad.”
Shing!
The moment she spoke, Yoruichi vanished. Her Shunpo was incredibly fast. I could tell her level was clearly one or two steps above Soi Fon’s. Furthermore, the fact that she didn't recklessly rush in even though I had lost sight of her was commendable.
“Now, now... but you see, fighting in the middle of enemy territory is a bit distasteful, isn't it? So...”
Grab!
Using Pesquisa, I predicted where she would move next and arrived there first via Sonído. I grabbed Yoruichi’s shoulder with one hand while pulling out an item from my vest and crushing it with the other.
“Let's change the scenery.”
“What are you doing?!”
Sensing something was wrong, Yoruichi tried to escape using Shunpo, but it was too late. I had timed this perfectly; even the Goddess of Flash couldn't avoid it. Honestly, even if the grandfather of all Flash Gods showed up, they wouldn't escape this.
Crack!
“It’s nothing big. We’re just going to a closed dimension—a perfect place to fight.”
When Is, Ulquiorra, and I set out, I had prepared several Caja Negación. Originally, the Caja Negación was a tool designed to punish subordinates by sealing them in a closed dimension. It can normally trap most opponents forever, but I had specially modified these for combat. The moment it activates, it drags both me and the opponent I'm holding into an isolated space that cannot be breached for one hour. While this is a disadvantage since I can't leave either, it is the ultimate tool for forcing a 1-on-1 duel in a situation where the opponent might have traps prepared. At the same moment I triggered mine, Is and Ulquiorra activated theirs as well.
Due to the Caja Negación, Yoruichi and I were transported from the shop to a void—a closed dimension where nothing existed. No others, no buildings, not even the moon.
“Now, let's play for real. Yoruichi-dono.”
“Hahaha! Well now, I’ve certainly been caught off guard twice.”
Yoruichi began to laugh. Apparently, the fact that she was caught and dragged to a place like this was quite amusing to her.
“Lucifer La El, was it?”
“That’s right.”
“It’s nothing much. I just wanted to memorize the name of the opponent I’m going to kill with everything I’ve got for the first time in a long while.”
With those chilling words, Yoruichi tossed aside her jacket. The habitual smile vanished from her face, replaced by a gaze brimming with murderous intent and tightly set lips. Her Reiatsu was refined and cold, like a sharpened blade. This was the true face of the Head of the Shihoin Clan, the former Captain of the 2nd Division, the Leader of the Stealth Force, the one called the Goddess of Flash... Yoruichi Shihoin.
“That look... is very intriguing.”
Watching Yoruichi’s aura shift so drastically in an instant piqued my interest. Looking at her cold, determined expression, I suddenly felt the urge to keep her as a pet. I had already planned to bring her back and brainwash her to use against Soi Fon, but now, the existence known as Yoruichi Shihoin seemed even more desirable to possess.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
For now, with this...
I've modified the Caja Negación to enable 1v1 battles!
Thus, the duels between Lucifer vs. Yoruichi, Aizen vs. Kisuke, and Ulquiorra vs. Tessai have begun. Meanwhile, Gin and Tosen are busy fighting Shinji's group elsewhere. I'll mainly be focusing on the battle between Lucifer and Yoruichi, though.
For some reason, I find Yoruichi quite a compelling character...
And yes, the poison in Gin's Bankai is accurate. In the translations I've seen, Gin mentions there is a cell-destroying poison on the inside of the blade. He doesn't say he added it separately; he explains it as he describes his Bankai, so it's a built-in ability of his Bankai. Or perhaps an effect inherent to the sword itself.
Comments (0)
Please log in to leave a comment. Login or Register