.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
[click every time ^]
Maho's fellow Captain's continue to talk amongst one another. Points about Fullbringers, Bounts, and Quincy. Things that could potentially matter, but had yet to present any long-lasting issue. Their comments did little more than scratch at his impatience. A thick and juicy vein surfaces in his forehead. Before long the Commander speaks offering his words as the closing judgment. His voice takes command of the space. While the others are made uncomfortable by his words. By his authority. Maho is uncharacteristically calm. The Commander's typical overbearing presence being directed elsewhere gave Maho little reason to fear him, at least today. He smokes in silence as Shobatsu begins.
“Weakness. That is what my eyes see.”
What follows is a temporary silence. It is as though he answers Maho's directly, cementing that all he is able to see now is weakness from the collective of Captains. So far, only Maho had ever truly recognized his own weakness. And...So far?
He had been the sole captain who had voiced any want to improve. Needless to say. He knew what was to come from Shobatsu. The Dragon is seldom clouded by pettiness. Seldom lost in the fallacy of control or lack thereof. All any man could do...
All any warrior could do...
It what they can then and there. Nothing more or less. And if they die...?
So be it.
“Captain Mukuro.”
The Commander's issues a heavy ordinance on the Phantom's shoulders. Find all the escaped prisoners and destroy them, or face their sentence himself. A troubling task, one that he would have to bear the responsibility for. The Phantom was no stranger to pressure. This was obvious. That did not eliminate the weight of such a mission. Maho could sense his anger boiling within him. It was a slow simmer, rising as each word escaped the blind tower of a man. Though his reiatsu did not flare in the presence of the Commander, his emotion read across his nude brow. He was not pleased. What became even more obvious, is that the man responsible was sure to pay the price for incurring his captain's wrath, every prisoner was as good as dead and Kyomu would solve it in just the nick of time. Even after solving this event, he would be haunted by his demons. Haunted by his Paranoia of failure. This would spread to his recruits who would have no choice to pick up the slack...
Well, whatever the result, he would be sure to cast bets once he got back to his division.
Why not?
Maho inhales, filling his lungs with smoke as the Commander moves on.
“Captain Nakamoto.”
The Tyrant turned Commander speaks his name, causing the fairy to jump.
Who knew Little Yu got so flustered in the spotlight. He shapes up quickly as he gets exactly what he asked for. His division would be allowed the increase in budget that he-so-desperately wanted. What he could not anticipate, is that his division would
be that change in protocol, members of the medical division now being called to the front lines.
Good. This would give him the opportunity to observe how unpredictable it is in the field. How no matter how hard you fight. How fast you run. Or how effective ones Zanpakuto could be, lives would be lost. His ignorance would be a lesson to him but hopefully, this would show him just how vital his role truly is.
“Captain Oda”
Next is the newest among them. A Third seat who had once aided Maho in protecting the Soul Society. He had gone out of his way to preserve the Haori as a symbol of respect. Not only to the Soul Society but to Maho as well. For this, he would forever hold Maho’s respect. Though he was not without his flaws. Maho saw him as more of an asset than a threat, which is what Shobatsu seemed to agree with, despite also being displeased with his words. The Commander felt he had displayed weakness in not having more c o n f i d e n c e in his ability to master himself. Which was true. Despite Maho’s inability to control his Shunko without injury, he never once voiced that openly. Nor did he blame it for his inability to find success. Instead, he kept at it. His training regime was as relentless as it was narrow-minded. But such a fixative approach created swift results when applied appropriately. The Commander would expect no less from Tenzen. Failure would spell his doom in the eyes of the Soul Society.
Nevertheless, the Vizard Captain is allowed to seal off the area the Kototsu for investigation. He is allowed the devices of the 12th Division to aid in his goal. With his orders given, and his lack of confidence scrutinized, it now falls upon Maho. He removes the cigar from his lips and shifts his gaze in the commander's direction. He has yet to release the previous cloud from his lungs. Meaning he has yet to breathe.
“Captain Kojima.”
“You will prepare for war…”
. . .war. . .
That word bounced around his mind for a while. He had always been prepared for battle. For a threat. But to hear the actual word escape him. This alone was cause for alarm. War preparations were somewhat different than simple training.
What could he mean?
Continue bolstering your numbers, restructuring your ranks, and training your Shinigami. The Ninth Division will run continuous patrols along the Seireitei’s walls and will form stations at each of the Four Great Seireimon. You will establish the Kojima Commando Unit, training your four strongest members to provide you direct support at the first sign of a threat. They will become an extension of yourself so that you yourself will not become overextended. You will teach them shunpo, so that they may make the ten-day journey between gates at a moment's notice, and you will condition their strength, so that should the need arise, they will be able to lift and close the Seireimon. You will personally oversee our security measures, and ensure that the Gotei Thirteen is prepared for an attack. You will have my authority to collaborate with the other Divisions in order to see to this task. Should even a single flaw be exploited, it will be you that pays the price. I will be expecting a full report once your analysis has been concluded.”
It would seem that he had the green light. His mind had always been preparing for something. The Dragon perceptiveness aided him not solely in battle but in the very flow of fate. There was always a tendency to be in the right place at the right time. Always able to see something coming a mile away. In the eyes of the law, his reasoning had been deemed sound. Of course, Maho foresaw this. His logic was that of a man who spoke only truth. Even when others refused. That feeling he had, the one about the wheels of fate turning. Well…
Let's just say. Them 9th Division boys had some arduous days ahead. At least this would give them an excuse to explore the Soul Society.
For now, thoughts of war push to the back of his mind, like an insatiable itch. There is more to hear.
It is the Knight, who is the last to receive a scolding from Murasaki Shobatsu. As his former subordinate, the two were much closer than any of the other Captains. Such a reality was not necessarily a good thing. That is because each judgment cast wore on the soul that much more. Though he had been praised as our hero. The Commander is not so easily swayed by heroics. The old man's sacrifice was deemed…needless, in the eyes of judgment.
“Captain Kagayaki. You sacrificed your body needlessly. Living in fear of your own power, you never dared to tame it. That is why your body is broken. That is why your mind is fractured. You are no different from the Vizards that you hate.
Maho exhales after all this time. The thing trace of smoke releasing once the attention was off of him. In truth such a sentence came as a shock; Maho was not unaware of Captain Higen’s reluctance. The Dragon still shared in the blame. Maho came to terms with his weakness that day and did whatever he could to rectify it. He had to move on from the souls lost, free to be reincarnated in the world of the living. He would have to find solace in the fact that their deaths weren’t as horrendous as they could have been.
All he could do was move forward. He had spared the Knight further injury so that he could still stand among us. Captain Higen had not yet recovered from the scars of that day. In the end, he was instructed not to repeat the same mistake. He would be up for psychiatric evaluation so that they could get a better read on his fractured memories. Maybe that was the only way to suppress his post-traumatic stress.
Maybe the old man really is going senile.
The Commander continues, reciting the report on the count discovered in the Human world. He could feel his mind trailing off in thought once again, that was until the presentation of new information.
“For the past two years, I have stationed an agent within the depths of Hell. His task, to locate the Captains lost to the Shattered Dimensions event, dead or alive. His orders were clear, he was not to return without information on their whereabouts, at risk of death.
This evening that agent, Yami Mochizuki, knelt before me to report.”
“He claims that the God-King has escaped Hell. This act is thought to be impossible by some. However, there is tell of a Togabito who once used the power of a Vasto Lorde to break his chains and be free of the grip of the Kushanāda. Vincent Bautista, the former God-King of Hueco Mundo, possesses power beyond even that. Along with our Captains, and the Quincy Empress, the God-King went missing during the Shattered Dimensions Event. It was his absence that allowed me to restore the balance of souls by halving the population of Hueco Mundo. It is likely that this creature has been trapped in Hell, and has amassed enough power to break his chains and escape. I have dispatched an agent from the Eleventh Division to Hueco Mundo in order to confirm these claims.
Monsters…Escaping hell?! He could not fully grasp the gravity of such words tossed about. Sure they had all heard the stories, but even Maho was far to uninformed to have any true detail of the Shattered dimensions event. All he remembered was that Shobatsu had destroyed a great many hollows in order to keep their population in check. A temporary fix to a never-ending problem. Fate seemed to have seen to it that it was time for it to resurface.
Just how powerful is this…God-King… He wondered.
Vincent…Bautista? It didn’t matter who or what it was. If it came down to it…Maho would shut it down.
This news coincides with the revelations of our meeting. Unseen forces are bringing forth forgotten enemies, tipping the scales of fate in their favor to see how easily we may fall. I see as they do. Hypocrites, who claim to protect the balance of souls and yet live as unbalanced men.
Doubt. Anger. Fear. These cloud your minds and corrupt your souls, distracting you from the only thing you must act upon. Duty.
You stand together as cowards, traitors, monsters, and fools. Forget petty notions of each other, your opinions are of no significance. I do not command you to hesitate, to fear, to hate, I do not command you to dwell on your past, worry for the future, regret your actions, or hold your ideals. I command you to be strong. I command you to do your duty. To fight and die for the balance of souls. You will stand together and die as Captains of the Gotei Thirteen, or you will live bowing down in disgrace.”
“Before me stands the greatest souls Shinigami have to offer, but what I see are insects. Capable of carving through mountains should they stand together, and yet choosing to stand alone and be trampled. What I see is what every being sees. From the most insignificant of souls in the Rukongai to the God-King of Hueco Mundo…
What I see is Weakness.”
His Large Sandals connect with the wooden floor, causing the rhythmic clack of his Geta to bounce along the walls. The large man takes his time leaving the room, his massive blade crashed into the floor. Purple flames echo a symphony of flame, allowing heat to overtake the room. The discomfort of the Commander's flames bares itself upon the flesh of his fellow Captains. Maho remains stoic to it. His tolerance for heat and flame much higher than it had been months ago. Instead of his usual unease, the Commander's flames inspired him instead.
The Dragons flames were soon to burn just as hot…if not hotter.
. . .
“Do not leave this place until your blood has been spilt.”
The doors to the Captain's hall slam shut, filling the hall with darkness. Smoke idles in a haze, lowering visibility as the Commander's flames illuminate, then snuff out. Even in this low visibility, Maho’s eyes appear to glow beneath his loss. Another Greenlight. This time with an opportunity to put the other Captains in their place. Truthfully speaking, Maho had grown restless. He had grown tired of many of their arrogance. Or lack of confidence. Of their shared weakness. His fists itched to be tested. To be further tempered against those worthy of receiving them. Why not show them the fruits of his labor?
The sound of a blade leaving its sheath strikes his ear, further allowing him to perceive the act in his mind.
Though lost in the dark, the very tip of his blunt reveals his location. A small orange target for the ghost to strike. Yu Nakamoto’s voice rips through space, casting with it, one of many Kido spells.
"Shakkahō!”
A bright orb of red light reveals what lay beneath smoke and shadow. Kyomu had enacted an attack and though It was obvious Yu had only done this for his own benefit, that did not mean it could not be of benefit to others. The Phantom's position would be revealed visually. Maho hadn’t any real use for his eyes, for his were closed shut. He had delved deep into his subconscious mind. His body relaxes becoming weightless and his movements become instinctual in nature.
The spiritual imprint of everyone in the room surfaces one by one, each represented by a whisp of spiritual energy. All souls had an imprint. like candles, these markers gave away the position of entities both living and dead. The ability, “Eye of the Dragon” Allows Maho to perceive these energy signatures through a combination of his basic senses, compiling into a singular sixth sense. Such a sensory allowed for a small level of precognition within his minds eye. He had planned to find a means of improving it. Though he had yet to enact it. Still. With it, as is, all would become crystal clear.
It's Faint…
!?!
right side….!
The Phantoms blade was intended for the Dragon's throat. Instead, when the arc completes, they meet his cigar, splitting it cleanly in half. He had thrust his entire torso backward preemptively, not allowing his movements to be read until it was too late to turn back. He had attempted to inhale, flushing his lungs with heated smoke. He slides along the floor as he weaves three and a half feet outside the range of his attacker's perceived attack radius. The reward for interrupting his inhale was an unstable intake of heat. It's more than enough, however, to ignite his very soul.
Heat of consistent intensity spreads to the four corners of the room in an instant. Like a bomb, A flood off fire disperses the smoke first, followed then by everyone else. It bombards the senses. One cannot speak without the taste of burning. They could not see beyond the brightness. All that could be heard was the roar of combustion. Though not one hundred percent on par with the likes of Shobatsu’s, his reiatsu is impressively overbearing. The longer one remains under its influence, the harsher upon the body it becomes. Even against the resistance of Kyomu’s special clothing, or against the equal force of one's opposing reiatsu. The density of this unending blaze made an unscathed approach improbable. The temperature in the room rises exponentially with each moment that goes uninterrupted. This way, he manages to target everyone in the room. He was not done, however. This was just the beginning.
Any inkling of pain is ignored and suppressed. Maho stands a foot or so off the wall which remains at his six. His right leg sweeps in a half-circle in order to
step into his stance. Like a conductor, his hands sway into place. His right arm tucks loosely into his torso. His left arm extends with an open palm slamming as it extends fully, now encased in ebony. Four streaks of black soar through the inferno, moving autonomously through the air. One sweeps low to the floor, curving at an angle toward the right. Putting it in the path Kyomu would have had to given a direct approach. Being low to the floor, it would be hard to track amidst the fire-based spirit energy burdening the Captain's hall. Such an approach purposes an attempt to latch onto a lower extremity, which one is unclear. If he could, he would pin him against the commander's throne and remove him from battle.
The other three shoot straight up toward the ceiling, hovering in a circle as they reach their peak. Fingers extend from these blackened orbs in the process. Their momentum slows, as they prepare to dive at the other three Captains. Oscillation allowed for a necessary increase in velocity. Currently, Captain Oda surrounds himself with an electrical current and dives at Captain Higen. Illuminating his blade. Soon enough, a limb would descend upon him from the rear, attempt to slam into the back of his neck. This would send his body crashing into Higen’s. Of course, this would only occur after his attack had been sprung on the knight. By now, the Dragons flames were bearing down on everything. Soon all attention would be on him for he had attacked everyone present. Despite the ferocity of his Shunko, the flames never did cause sufficient damage to the building itself. Shobatsu's throne somehow remained unscathed throughout it all, appearing neither seared nor charred.
It is Little Yu who is the only one who finds himself free of the Dragons assault. The last of these black hands hovering above. They were spaced four feet apart. Both hovering in the center of the room. They would soon descend straight down toward the floor, one intended for offense and the last for defense. Maho would not allow the Phantom to control the pace. He was primed for acceleration, though remained confident in his burning soul as a deterrent against invading forces. How then would the Knight react? Would Shobatsu's words throw him into a frenzy? Would he grow annoyed at Tenzens attack? Would Kyomu continue his assault? Or would they all turn on the Dragon for daring to engage them all?
