The Final Stand
“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA”
The cackling sounds of the Inner Hollow filled the entirety of Hirameku-Hitouchi’s realm. It was a only a matter of time, before Shizuka gave in. Realized he was nothing but an inferior soul, a copy, all in all, a total failure of a Shinigami. There was nothing he could do to stop this force beyond his own comprehension.
Or so the Inner Hollow wanted to think….
Being an incarnation of the worst qualities Shizuka had. These blatant thoughts of his own, were only thoughts that came from the man he was possessing himself. Stored deep within the back of his mind.
So why…. Why was Shizuka fighting back? Why was he trying his best to regain control, when he knows it’s futile? It was perplexing to the Inner Hollow, when taken into a deeper account, but sadly with the ensuing battle raging. Shizuka and his Zanpakuto working together, to reach the cusp of victory. The only words and thoughts that would be exchanged. Would be mettle of two opposing forces clashing, for superiority…
On the outside, the same could be said for the valiant Shinigami that occupied Naruki City. Though there was loss throughout the entire World of the Living. If it hadn’t been for the courageous efforts of multiple shinigami. The devastation they face now would only pale in comparison, to an outcome where there were no protectors. Now it was up to them once again to quell one more threat, and it was going to take everything to end this once and for all…..
Evident in Justin Taimu’s assault, the Watchman’s fullbring was calculated and precise. Designating the Hollowfied Shizuka even as a ally through these confusing times. Sparing his life as he attempted to break through his hollow mask. Sadly, what the Fullbring did not account for, was something that was out of the question. Something violent and sporadic, similar to the creature itself. The reason for it’s sudden “deactivation” was no build up of it’s own reiryoku to bolsters it’s defense. The Hierro served it’s purpose for that very reason. No…. This technique was different. It required a catalyst for it’s activation,
something to get it started. Something that the Watchman
accomplished, when his spear made contact with the mask of the Vice-Captain. The force ever so strong, accurate and precise. Still failed to cut it’s foe. Regardless of his failure he would immediately follow up with a kick to the mask, stronger than he could possibly muster on his own. Possibly using power from another source he had not known about. While this power was also extreme in all of it’s glory, the hollowfied Shizuka did not budge one bit. The navy blue markings on his chest though, moving with each hit, told a different story. As it still moved,
as if a bar was being filled up. With each hit from Justin Taimu, being the catalyst. The Watchman didn’t know or even realize, his attacks were actually the reason for this event to be so cataclysmic. His physical power far exceeding the normal means, was MORE than enough to cause the attack to swell to this extent. The Hollowfied creature converting the Fullbringer’s kinetic energy into his own power. Forming a
special version of the Cero technique, whose size was encapsulating the entire sky itself. Even though the more concerning factor would be that the creature is using abilities that are beyond the scope of his vessel, and even more so his Zanpakuto. This would in turn allow everyone in Naruki to analyze momentarily, amidst the chaos, and realize. That this being didn’t hold a Zanpakuto at all.
Shizuka’s Bankai being spiralled out of existence, left the Zanpakuto only being a hilt with barely any blade left, scattered within the rubble of the city. What they were witnessing now was just the innate power of the vessel itself. Using abilities Shizuka, could
never muster as normal shinigami. This Hollow was tapping into a well of potential that had yet to be sought out, and was bringing out it’s destructive prowess in full. Still even with this knowledge, this wouldn’t deter the protectors one bit. After realizing his mistakes, the Fullbring temporarily disappears away. Seemingly running away from the eventuality that plans to annihilate Naruki City.
Nibui Ueki’s bravery and confidence knew no bounds. In the face of an attack so overwhelming, corroding the atmosphere around him. The spiritual phenom, stood tall. Watching as the voracious black strands of reiatsu passed by his pristine white hair. He knew if it came down to it, he’d pull out all of the stops to subdue this foe. But his sense of allegiance, his sense of loyalty to the Gotei would not allow him to annihilate his foe without at least calling out their name was once more in an attempt at recollection.
"Lieutenant Hyouzoku!"
His deafening roar piercing the destructive veil that was the Cero-cloaked being. While the beast did not respond in anyway shape or form.
It was heard….
Hiroka’s attempt at subduing the creature took a different approach. Being faced with a calamitous attack such as this one, brought zero fear once again to the brave 11th Division warrior. With the ultimate might of his shikai, he wraps his power around into a ball. Specifically tailor made to withstand the full strength of his own innate ability, and the natural behemoth physicality of Hiroka himself. He then launched the ball high into the sky from the building he stood upon. Reaching past the heavens and into the mesosphere where the battle was ensuing. While Hiroka’s aim was accurate and he was capable of seeing literal miles high into the sky. The frame of the Vasto was not something that could be seen visually, for he was covered by an entire black mass that clouded his physical appearance completely. Still though, the ball would make it’s way to this sphere. Traveling at unheard of speeds. Until the point where it finally made contact with this mass, to which it then collides momentarily. Trying it’s hardest to pierce through the ridiculous mass of reiryoku, until it found itself completely engulfed. Erased from existence completely, only serving as a nutrient for this all encompassing mass. He would see the effects of his
“failure” manifest in the increase in size of this Cero.
With the Hero gone, and the Shinigami struggling at an attempt to stop this creature. All hope was lost.
Fight Back
“You haven’t had enough huh?”
“We’ll have enough when you’re defeated”
“We’ll have enough when you’re defeated”
The water within the inner world… evaporated completely. The land ravaged completely into a makeshift desert of their battle. The Shinigami and the Zanpakuto begin to make their final stand. Shizuka bleeding profusely, skin charred beyond belief from the violent assault of his own spiritual power. He was standing on his last legs, and he needed to find a way to victory. Though still on confusing terms with his Zanpakuto. The shattered and broken being, locked from his superior Bankai transformation. Entrusted this final gambit to his owner, the being who he constantly looked at as if he was beneath him. He was the key to saving their souls, and the spirit wasn’t stubborn enough to deny this. It sparked a momentary change within the spirit itself. Maybe he had been looking at the Vice-Captain through a different lens. Maybe, it was he who needed to change, and not Shizuka himself. His polar opposite standing across from them, giving the two more trouble than they could deal with. Maybe it was he, who was also worthless without Shizuka. This spurned the spirit, and without hesitation, in complete synchronization. As Shizuka charged in, Hirameku-Hitouchi manifested itself in it’s shikai’s bladed form and fell into the palm of his owner. The Inner Hollow, stood there exhausted in his own right, but still in the back of it’s thoughts.
Perplexed
SHING
.
.
.
“Pointless”
As the Inner Hollow stared at the Shikai of Hirameku-Hitouchi stabbing him through the gut. He began to fade from the realm entirely. His manifestation leaving the confines of Shizuka’s mind he simply takes another glance at the Vice-Captain.
“One day, this will be all mines…. HAHAHAHAHA”
Beaten and battered, Shizuka stood within the confines of his own inner world. Distraught and defeated mentally. What he had endured had almost felt like an eternity. The amount of trauma and stress that layed within the depths of his mind, had become realized in the form of a monster. The cost of his sanity, confidence, and the relationship of his Zanpakuto. All destroyed by a reckless invader. The Raiken looked at his Zanpakuto once more, looking for confirmation of a reasonable future. All he could feel was the awkward stare back into his own soul. Shizuka didn’t know what was in store for them, but with today’s threat averted. He layed those thoughts to rest as he began to….. come back
Revival
Just as the dust settles within the inner world of Shizuka, his outside world parallels. The overlying master of time altering events.
The Watchman himself
would always try to find a future in which he could function in. Just as Shizuka was about to burst, Justin Taimu makes his timely reappearance once again. The fullbring instantly delegating the weakness in this Cero, teleported directly into the epicenter of the attack. While his armor was impervious to the effects of Shizuka’s enhanced reiatsu. This version of a Cero was a different phenomenon entirely.
Which required a being to strike perfectly, at the right place at the right time. While simultaneously getting in and out instantly. A job only suited for one individual.
In moment he struck, was the same moment he vanished. As the cracked mask fell into pieces, the Cero began to burst about wildly. Raging and rampaging until, it suddenly dispersed. Normally, in this state, something this trivial wouldn’t have affected the hollowfied Vice-Captain. The mask would’ve reattached itself immediately and he would’ve continued his onslaught. Unbeknownst to the heroes who participated in Naruki City, there were several factors for this. Justin’s initial physical assault was the catalyst for
overloading the Cero initially. The call from Shizuka’s allies in 10th Division as he stayed in his nightmarish slumber. Served as a spiritual tether for Shizuka back into the real world. The efforts of 11th Division, Nibui’s loud outburst serving as a distraction. While Hiroka’s Shikai at it’s full power served to created a space in the mass of reiryoku, while it was
thought to be engulfed. This created a small opening, for Justin Taimu, to envelop a space that was previously occupied by the Cero itself. To deliver one…. final….blow.
While it was unconventional, at the end of the day, Naruki City was spared once again. As the pieces of Shizuka’s mask fragment turned into dust. The rest of his hollow adornments stayed onto his body, almost permanently latched to him. While his eyes held no signs of consciousness in them. It took all but a second for his black sclera to become covered with the lids of eyes, and for his body to fall straight down. Landing directly onto the hands of his 10th Division comrades who stood there fighting for his survival and their own.
While heavily littered with loss, the Shinigami’s can be satisfied with this outcome.
