As the dust settled,
Shihōin Yoruichi stood silently, watching the pure-white woman dissolve into shimmering light, like dandelion seeds scattering in the wind.
Until finally, she vanished.
Fujimiya Makoto stood calmly nearby, unperturbed.
For a moment, even Yoruichi's gaze at him grew uneasy.
Truly, Makoto...
Yoruichi had witnessed the entire battle.
Though Makoto's initial probing seemed clumsy, once he released his Shikai, the tide turned decisively.
Yoruichi saw it all!
Makoto merely swung his Zanpakutō casually, and the Quincy collapsed.
The woman's body trembled violently, clutching her abdomen, as if sieved.
The pink hearts in their eyes seemed to burst from their sockets.
When the Quincy woman rose again, she charged once more, only to be defeated.
Her eerie 'erasure' technique seemed ineffective against Makoto.
The battle became one-sided, repeating this strange pattern.
Yoruichi couldn't fathom what they'd done in that cursed Zanpakutō realm.
"Truly, Makoto..."
"You achieved what we couldn't so easily."
As the remnants faded, Yoruichi limped to Makoto, his expression filled with awe.
His sincerity needed no words.
But Makoto knew Yoruichi's praise wasn't for his combat.
He glanced at Yoruichi, dismissive:
"Don't underestimate my intel network."
"You're limping over—want me to help, old man?"
"Dare you disturb my thoughts of the late Mrs. Louise?"
[I'm not into men, old man!]
The broken sword's childish voice chimed from Makoto's waist.
Clearly, not his type.
"Hey, brat!" Yoruichi laughed, slapping Makoto's shoulder. "I'm your senior!"
Makoto grinned at his reaction.
"Your leg okay?"
He looked at Yoruichi's remaining Raiouken armor—the left side lost in battle.
Without it, even Yoruichi might've been harmed by Louise's Quincy abilities.
"Fine, I can walk."
Yoruichi glanced at Makoto's sword: "Still usable?"
"Depends on the opponent."
Though Makoto seemed casual, he knew his limits.
"Moreover..."
Both turned toward the sky.
Overwhelming reiatsu surged, forming waves.
Makoto inhaled, exhaling slowly:
"These foes aren't easy."
---
Sensing the surging reiatsu, Sakamatsu Sazō retracted his cane sword, eyeing the gate.
His wrinkled face relaxed slightly.
"My luck's not bad."
He turned toward the reiatsu's source, cane sword raised.
His hunched frame seemed oddly resolute.
"We meet again so soon."
Sakamatsu's voice was slow. His sunken eyes widened.
"Yhwach."
A tall figure stepped through the gate into Soul Society.
With lion-like black hair and thick beard, Yhwach's red cloak billowed.
"You again, old bug."
Yhwach glanced at the battlefield.
The war between Shinigami and Quincy was ideological—how to handle Hollows and the fate of the three realms.
Yet, after centuries of tragedy, Yhwach wondered if he'd grown weak or if losing his omniscience had made him doubt his judgments.
Were these sacrifices meaningful?
He'd die to a Shinigami eventually.
His empire would fall.
Yhwach knew only one truth:
Victory was the only path.
"Your games annoy me."
Yhwach gestured coldly at Sakamatsu:
"Handle it, W."
The small doll on his sword hilt grew, becoming a round, armored automaton blocking Sakamatsu's path.
Yhwach turned toward Seireitei, his goal.
Sakamatsu drew his cane sword, eyeing the automaton.
"Parasitize it! Hiruko Hiru."
Black currents erupted, causing chaotic reiatsu.
But this wasn't enough...
Sakamatsu smirked at Yhwach's back.
"Not nearly."
"Clang—"
Sakamatsu's blade struck, but W ignored it, grabbing the sword.
"Clang!"
Metal clashed, sparks flying.
"Futile."
W's voice was dull: "Your efforts are useless!"
"My Schrift is 'W'—Weapon."
"This automaton is my masterpiece!"
"Die for it."
Sakamatsu merely smiled:
"Fool."
---
Moments after Yhwach left,
"Boom—"
W's shattered body crashed before him, half-buried in the ground.
Yhwach frowned, drawing his Quincy cross sword, blocking Sakamatsu's attack.
"Clang!"
Sensing something odd, Yhwach kicked Sakamatsu away.
The anomaly intensified—microscopic entities surrounded him.
What was this?
Sakamatsu controlled insects, but this...
Sakamatsu smirked, accelerating.
"Clang!"
His small sword struck like a serpent.
Stabs, slashes, each blocked by Yhwach.
Finally, Sakamatsu gripped his sword, slashing horizontally.
"Clang!!"
Yhwach blocked, coldly.
"Enough."
Sakamatsu retreated.
As Yhwach pondered, a roar erupted.
"Roar—!!"
W, shattered, rose, eyes glowing red, charging at Yhwach.
Yhwach's eyes narrowed.
An explosion engulfed them.
Reiatsu waves spread.
Sakamatsu smirked at the blast.
"Hiruko Hiru isn't simple."
As its release implied, it was a 'parasitic' blade.
Sakamatsu controlled insects by parasitizing them.
Now, even bacteria were his tools.
W, infected, became his puppet.
Its mission: kill Yhwach with maximum power.
"Heh."
Sakamatsu cackled: "The Quincy King is overrated."
But as he spoke, a blade sliced through the smoke.
"Pfft—"
Sakamatsu's head flew, his body dissolving into black mist.
Yhwach emerged, cloak pristine.
"Sakamatsu Sazō."
"Using my power against me? Foolish."
Sakamatsu's head struggled, roaring:
"Bankai—"
"Ruri Kanchū Hiruko Hiru!"
Yhwach's smile faded.
"Only Bankai makes Shinigami worth noting."
***********************************************
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