The Final battle.

We arrived in a moment of desperation. Me and the Visored had been held up with convincing the lieutenant of the Gotei 1 to let us through the barrier. Before you ask: No, I couldn’t have used the earrings. With my own **** very much a possibility I had stored them way somewhere where no one but me should ever be able to find them. After all, I didn’t want that power in someone like Aizen’s deceiving fingers.

When good old Sasakibe finally let us through the scene of the battle was in a moment of shock. The copy of the city that Soul Society created bore the scars of a deadly battle. A fortress of fire got blown away by a bloated hollow monstrosity as we flied towards them. A nifty trick I got to admit, why we don’t teach that technique to lower class Shinigami is beyond me.

As everyone concentrated on their seemingly inescapable demise Hirako found it the perfect time to make our dramatic entrance. “Hold it right there!” He said in a voice that echoed over the otherwise silent battlefield. “Long time no see, Aizen.”

As if on que every one of them striked a pose. Personally I was too preoccupied to scan for enemies and, much more important, Soifon. I saw her in the distance. There was something wrong with her body language…the way she was holding her shoulder. I also saw that grim reaper looking Arrancar.

He was broader than I people in Europe usually imagine ****, he also exchanged the scythe for a crown and a chain around his chest.

“It’s been ages since we’ve seen each other…unless your name is Nize of course.” Hirako said, the Barrett he was usually wearing spinning around his finger. “Does anybody have somebody they’d like to say ‘Ello to in the 13 squads?”

That request was denied by everything but Lisa, who disappeared without a word. “This is where we part ways then.” I said, “Thanks for everything.” Hirako just nodded into my general direction. “I will greet the commander then.” He said and vanished, much to Hiyori’s anger. I used a Shunpo as well to get to Soifon.

“You have quiet some nerve showing up now.” She said at me. I was at a loss for words. Not for the reprimand, I expected that. No, Soifon’s weird body language came from the fact that she no longer had anything attached to her shoulder. I spared my curiosity about the how for later and concentrated on the who.

The Arrancar was hovering there without a care in the world. “Another one on the chopping block.” An old man’s voice permeated from the bleak skull. “How bothersome.” “I think we can skip the explanations where I have been for later.” I said with a glance towards the white monstrosity that stepped of the Garganta when we arrived. “Agreed.” Its stomach ripped open and it then proceeded to throw up Gillian. It was as disgusting as it sounds.

However the Visored were quick to take care of everything. Gillians did not prove much of a threat to a well-rested person of captain rank, even in that mass. “THEY ARE FREAKING STRONG?!?” Omaeda, with his little brain, commented.

Afterwards the Visored divided to the already existing fights all over the battlefield. Thankfully, Hachi decided to join us, the pink-haired giant was one of the few I could stomach of these people. “It’s been a long time, Soifon-san.” He said.

Now this time I could understand Omaeda’s reaction of asking questions. “You know this abnormally large geezer?” Doesn’t mean I appreciate the tone though. A punch to the nose silenced the second-rank. “I have never seen him before.” Soifon said. The way she looked away from him and towards the ground with a slightly guilty expression made the lie pretty obvious. “I thought that would be how you react.” Hachi said.

The Arrancar, who was called Baraggan as I later learnt, decided that the time to wait patiently was over. “Who you are or what power you possess are matters of little consequence. All are equal before my power.” He raised his hand, dark mist protruding from it. “Now, turn to bone and perish!”

The mist flew towards us. With a stoic expression, Hachi slammed his hands together and a barrier materialized around Baraggan. He and his mist were trapped. “Your abilities are nothing to fear if you cannot touch us.” He was promptly proven wrong as his barrier literally decayed within moments.

“Did you think Spiritual Energy doesn’t age? How comical.” The skeleton said in a slightly amused tone. The mist was spreading again. “Nize.” He said, his tone a bit panicked. “I am sure I can destroy him with Soifons help but I will need time to set up a stronger barrier. Can you buy us that?” I smiled. “Never ask a soldier for something. Give orders.” “Then get on it.” Soifon commanded. Fairly certain she would have kicked me towards the Arrancar if there wouldn’t have been the whole **** mist going on.

I drew Merc and said the word. “Bankai.” The explosion of spiritual particles managed to drive of the first wave of Baraggan’s attack as the Templar armour laid itself around my body. “Millites ex Machina.” Now, I am not one to gloat usually but the face Omaeda made upon me materializing the second release was priceless. Soifon looked a bit less surprised, I think she already guessed the progress from my increased level of spiritual energy. She did however looked slightly taken aback when I put on the hollow mask.

Baraggan was already sending a second wave of the black mist towards us when I said, “Conscription.” And a sphere suddenly appeared around him. It was entirely black, metal rings around the outside of its flat surface. A miniature of Tousen Kaname’s Bankai. With his master unable to localize his foes the mist uselessly dissipated.

I had quickly changed locations when rust spread over the metal rings before the whole construction disappeared and revealed an unfazed Baraggan. He turned to me, regarding me as the primary annoyance. “A useless attempt, all bindings will decay when holding me.” He belittled me and with a gesture of his hand sent another wave of the deadly spiritual energy.

“Conscription.” I said again. This time pink flower petal emerged from my armour and met with the mist. They stood no chance against the decaying **** but they bought me enough time to dodge.

You likely have guessed it by now what it is that my Bankai does but just for the sake of clearance let me clear it up. It allows me to ‘Hire’ the ability of every other Shinigami I know. Of course the version I use is vastly inferior to the original, at the time of the battle I could use maybe use 20% of the original strength, but the flexibility of it is why I and others regard it as a cheat. Of course there was also another slightly more complicated ability.

The glow at my left gauntlet indicated that the first portal I had created was still active. “What an annoyance you are.” “Just following orders.” I said and shrugged. The next wave of attack flew towards me. Now this next one I would enjoy a lot. “Conscription.”

A sword appeared in my hand. It was a black katana that was used against me in a few training matches. I grabbed it with both hands. The mist flowed around me, blocking my every escape route and my sight. I screamed, “GETSUGA TENSHOU!” And swung then katana. The black and red energy wave cut a corridor through the mist and I escaped.

However Barragan had vanished. When you can’t see an enemy who has only deemed you worthy to use a single attack one is advised to take a VERY defensive approach. I conscripted Hitsugaya’s bankai and covered me in a block of ice. Not a second to soon as well as Barragan suddenly appeared beside me, his hand grabbing for my throat frozen only a few centimetres from me.

“You are just buying time. Which I have more than enough of.” The grim reaper said. The ice started melting and vaporizing around his hand. I hurried to create more. Now we were locked in a battle of endurance and whole my display until now might have looked impressive let me tell you a certainty: Despite all I was not much more talented than the average joe, what got me to this point was pure discipline and stubbornness.

So, best I could do against the overwhelming power of a guy who caught me after only moving once in our entire battle was maybe twenty seconds. Hachi needed ten to finish his preperations. Giant structures started to materialize around the two of us, a thick barrier that encompassed multiple layers.

Baraggan started laughing. “I forgot about you maggots. Do you really think that this will stop me? Using a stalling tactic against me is nothing more than spitting on a god!” “That barrier is not there to stall you.” Hachi said. “It is to concentrate the destructive power of captain Soifon’s Bankai.”

“WHAT?” A hole opened in the barrier. Now, I had never seen or heard of Soifon’s Bankai but the giant missile like thing she was holding let little to my imagination. I was time to make my exit. “You will kill your ally with you!” Barragan said. “Sorry, I plan to live through this.” I said. Although Baraggan’s attention was diverted, I could still feel deaths grip at my throat and spreading through my body. I had no more resistance to give and I didn’t have to buy anymore time. I opened the second portal under me and used it to escape moments before Soifon fired her Bankai.

The portal closed behind me but not before a wave of heat from the explosion escaped with and sent me flying towards the ground. Omaeda caught me and Soifon soon after. “Are they okay?” Hachi asked from above. “Do they look okay? His whole back is burned off.”

Ah, so that was why I couldn’t feel it anymore. The whole living thing seemed a bit less likely now. However I was still conscious so that was a plus. I gave Soifon a dry smile to calm her down, she was giving me a bit of a worried look. It worked and she turned to Hachi. “Shooting that thing twice a day is taking quite a toll. I will make sure you keep your promise.

Before I could even attempt to ask what that promise was I baleful voice came from the smoke of the explosion. “Unforgivable…to you insects could inflect such severe injuries on me…” The smoke was blown away by a giant wave of his mist, revealing the partly crumbled and destroyed body of the skeleton.

“I AM THE GOD OF HUECO MUNDO, THIS INSOLENCE SHALL NOT GO UNPUNISHED!” It was at this moment that I gained respect towards Omaeda. He might be a bumbling buffoon but he carried us away from the danger while dodging the tentacles of deadly energy that were grasping for us. Hachi however was less lucky, the mist hitting both his arm and his head. The mask took the latter hit but his hand still started decaying.

Until it was suddenly gone, replaced by a barrier. “What did you do?” Barragan asked, it was the first time I heard him confused. “I humbly have it to you.” Hachi said while pointing at the Arrancar. “If you are able to even survive a point blank hit of captain Soifons Bankai than maybe your own powers will be able to destroy you.” He explained. The theory was proven as Barragan started to decay from the centre outwards.

“SUCH INSOLENCE?!” The grim reaper screamed, but his rage was useless now. We all watched as he was eaten by his own powers. We waited and waited. Nothing happened. “YEEEEEEEES!” Omaeda screamed in joy. As he landed on a rooftop. I was not about to join in on that, my lungs felt a bit crisp, but I could surely agree with the intent of that scream. Soifon also let his excessive emotions go for once.

“I will apply first aid for now.” Hachi said and started healing my back. It started breathing easier seconds later. I also felt the pain. It was pretty disgusting but not the worst I have ever felt. “What is our plan from here?” I asked. “First we recover.” Soifon said and leaned against a nearby ventilation shaft. “Then we wait for Ichigo Kurosaki.”

The body who never saw Aizen’s Shikai. “I understand.” I said.

I am sure you have heard from other sources how the next bit went already so let me make this quick. Hachi stopped treating me after the wound was no longer threatening, which was good because Hiyori got almost killed by Aizen so he had to tend to her instead.

Aizen started rampaging, Tousen became a fly and died, Ichigo showed up and from there out it was a battle to create and opening in Aizen’s defence. It was then that I truly realized the difference between him and everyone else. He fought everyone who was still able to stand. Visored, Captains, Lieutenants, he dodged and blocked everything with ease, played with us. One against many, and the many were not faring well.

The tide seemed to change after three of us fell. Soifon used a technique that created duplicated of herself which preoccupied Aizen long enough to be frozen. He still managed to block the certain **** strike of Suzumebachi. It was then that Hitsugaya, with the help from Kyoraku, managed to stab Aizen through the chest.

Or so we thought. After Ichigo screamed “What the hell are you guys doing?” Aizen was replaced by Hinamori. Hitsugaya had just mortally wounded the girl he wanted to protect the most. I can still hear Aizen say the sentence that defined his power.

“How long were you under the impression that I wasn’t using my absolute hypnosis?”

He finished the rest of us off in a single instance afterwards.

That is pretty much were my story ends. Not that I died or anything, don’t get me wrong, the thing is just that the rest is the story of Ichigo Kurosaki. He was, is, the hero that saved Soul Society through enormous power. I was never here to tell you the glorious history of a master who alone won a war. I am a soldier, a cog in the machine. This was simply my journey to become a bigger cog.