There is no absence of dismay in the Commander’s expression. Like anyone in a situation so dire as this had all hastily become, he was not absolved of emotion; quite specifically, anger. It festers, boils, and rises internally within the giant of a man evident in the bulging vein at the base of his forehead. His eyes close somberly at the last breath that followed his orders to the young captain Yugure, entrusting her with the task of using her undeniable skillset and ability to both gather and disperse information throughout the entirety of Soul Society at a moment’s notice. Had everyone been appropriately briefed, perhaps there would be some relief, some saving grace to amend those who had been lost. Truthfully, the identity of a void was known all-too-well by the Commander, with many of his own present within–never to be filled. Today, The Gotei 13 and the realms of souls that they were bound to protect, would be presented with a void like no other; churned from chaos and destruction, bound to end in ash and shadow. They could only look forward, improve, and learn from the mistakes that would litter their soon-to-be past. Like a fleeting moment, Captain Yugure is gone and then back again, her speed and tact clear in her intent to carry out Higen’s orders explicitly. She speaks, as Higen–immune to the jeering and banter of an event he has yet to be able to enjoy–listens intently.
The raging battle between the Fourth Division Captain and his own former Lieutenant and current Captain of the 11th Division was just that–raging. So much so, that the entirety of Sokyoku hill became enveloped in dust and debris. The cloud spurred from earth-shaking physical prowess and speed hardly perceptible to the casual eye had obscured our contestants from view, creating a stillness, a silence, teetering and trembling suspense among the crowd and fans. It was as if the world paused for a moment, a single child so enthralled by what would be revealed once the smokescreen was torn away, unclutches their balloon as their focus wanes, causing it to drift along off into the distance with the setting sun.
As it clears, the formerly fully-armored Hageshi is stripped almost completely bare. Beneath her, swimming in a pool of crimson lies the broken fairy, his wings clipped and taken as trophies. As his damaged body sinks into his own leaking ichor, the red bile from his combatant spills over onto him as well, dousing him in a shower of his shortcomings. While the view of it all is still partially obscured, drawn behind a veil of dust and dirt, the sound in the area is only amplified by the crowd's silence; Every breath, every tumbling rock. Everyone can hear Omoni’s beating heart, and her trembling exhales; accompanied by Yu’s groans of pain, and the squelching of his flesh beneath her weight.
“I..”
He parts his lips, struggling to speak, but seems determined to do so as his peer and adversary stands above him, seemingly forced to listen at the behest of her own exhaustion. The crowd listens with equal fervor, fists clinched tightly as if it had been them laying everything on the line today.
“...surrender…”
The crowd erupts with the most force and volume that it had all day. The fights had served their purpose in galvanizing the commonfolk, instilling within them an inextinguishable fire. Some celebrated, while others broke out into arguments or fights concerning their bets and parlays. The betting booths become immediately overpopulated, all sense of order and control lost to those running the individual stations. Rowdy Rukongai folk yell and scream to receive the Kan owed to them, while children with balloons, posters, and other forms of adorations for the participants wave them about frantically. The camera feeds shutter from their view of Sokyoku Hill, to only now show the participant card of Omoni Hageshi, flashing it vibrantly on every screen, everywhere. Both Omoni and Yu, have their own vision limited by an uproar of a violent wind. It takes shape, forms, and spirals upward in a storm-like dance, whilst it encapsulates the two Kenpachi hopefuls inside. Their presence vanishes completely from their location at the Seireitei’s epicenter, and reforms at the base of the Rukongai Festival grounds where it all had started. Medical teams are already there to tend to them both, ensuring that although the Captain had surrendered, his life would not be stripped so easily. Higen gazes at Omoni, her expression, of course, one of natural overexertion, but at her core is disappointment. Higen, who knows the beast of a woman personally, deduces that while it would have pained her to kill her former Captain, a surrender is but a narrow and hollow victory–if a victory at all to the battle-scorned amazoness.
“Hageshi!”
“Hageshi!”
“Hageshi!”
“Hageshi!”
Kenpachi Hageshi. Her name from henceforth, a title bestowed upon so few, in thousands of years of the Gotei 13’s existence. A name reserved for the strongest among them, the unconquerable foe. The Shield, Seireitei’s own bulwark; Omoni Hageshi was in a league of her own. One could say every experience, every fight, every scar, scratch, and blemish led to this moment, where she could be revered by peers, subordinates, and civilians as the mighty warrior that she truly was.
An awkward smile creeps over the Commander’s lips, the chaotic events that unfolded elsewhere still plaguing him mentally. He taps the side of the podium, while the crowd dwindles down to a hushed whisper slowly. He looks outward, his gaze vast as it blankets every individual whose attention he’s garnered. There is a stillness, an airy breath as if he had taken them all in with a single inhalation.
"Today…”
He pauses, a gentle breeze blows wayward leaves against the feet and ankles of those in attendance, his beard drifting in the direction of the stiff wind.
“You watched as your protectors, put on a magnanimous display. A display of strength, only seen by the might of the Gotei 13. While some may have been lost, only the strong have prevailed. Those same strong individuals will ensure that we are ushered into a new era of peace and prosperity, fully equipped to deal with any threat that would dare to challenge us.”
There is an uproar as the Commander briefly pans his vision over to Captain Yugure, who knew quite well that they perhaps were not equipped, and this illusion, this fallacy of peace was soon to be shattered by a dark threat on the horizon.
“Now, Omoni Hageshi, your new Kenpachi, will lead us in any effort to protect us from our enemies; To protect our way of life. But the work does not stop here. I know there are many of you out there that could not help but be motivated by all of the spectacular fighters today, to the point where you too, want to be among the strong. From the ground up, we will build, and never stop, that is how we remain. Good work was done today, but the work is far from finished. How many of you… “
"...Will join the strong?!"
His hand lifts from the side of the podium as his index finger points outwardly toward the crowd. It scans horizontally in a sweeping motion, from left to right, ensuring that there is no soul left untouched. The cannons blast concussively, confetti raining down onto the festival as its festivities are set to continue for the remainder of the night without pause. The Commander comes about face with one swift motion, the Ichibantai insignia flashing against the rays of yellow and orange peeking over the distant palisades and roof shingles. How much of what he said was true? Was where they stood now enough? Enough to combat the foes at their doorstep? Questions, soon to be answered, whether they were ready or not.
