5 Chapter 5
Funfact;
"Hueco Mundo and Soul Society were shown to have stars and moon, hinting the existence of celestial bodies, which makes them not only a world or a realm, but a whole universe entirely."
Yhwach was not just planning on destroying three worlds, but three universes …and he almost succeeded.
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"Wait, so we're on the verge of war with another universe we know nothing about?!" Yoruichi Shihōin exclaimed in shock.
Tier Harribel, dressed in a white crop top and a blue denim shorts as she sat under the shade of a kiosk in a middle of a small pond in Ichigo's garden.
She was holding a book and reading it, flipping the pages from time to time.
"According to Mayuri, yeah." Replied Harribel.
"Oh come on!" Yoruichi groaned in annoyance, "We just got ravaged by a war, and now another one is about to erupt? Against another universe no less!"
Yoruichi was sitting in front of Harribel, dressed in a yellow crop top, paired with an orange jacket and black leggings.
Strangely enough, Yoruichi and Harribel actually got along quite well despite the two not sharing any similarities.
Yoruichi is outgoing, Harribel is reserved. Yoruichi is playful, Harribel is stern. Yoruichi is carefree, Harribel is serious.
One could say that they are the polar opposite of each other, but the two surprisingly became good friends.
"So, what did Ichigo plan on doing?" Asked Yoruichi.
"Hm," Harribel flipped a page, "He allocated more funds to the Twelfth Division so they can quickly find a way to travel to the other universe, and then send Soi Fon to gather intel."
"Understandable, that's what I'd do as well." Yoruichi nodded, "I don't want us to be caught off guard like we did five years ago …"
"Indeed." Harribel sighed as she remembered the incident.
Quincies poured in Huecu Mundo, slaughtered Arrancars and Hollows who fought them, and enslaved those who surrendered.
At that time, she couldn't even help but think that if Espadas were still active, and if Aizen was still their leader, there is no way the Quincies would be able to defeat them.
She was also sure that if it wasn't Yhwach who personally lead the Quincies and fought her, she could've hold her ground until Nel called for help to Ichigo and the Shinigamis.
Anyway, after the Winter War and the capture of Aizen, Arrancar survivors were pardoned for their crimes, and knowing the Quincies were exterminating them, Shinigamis would surely send help.
After all, their job is to maintain the balance of the universe, they wouldn't let the Quincy disrupt that.
"By the way," Yoruichi gave Harribel a teasing smirk, "What's this about I heard about you inviting Ichigo to your quarters last night?"
"…" Harribel remained silent, opting to bury her face with her book.
"Your ears are red."
"It's not."
With this, the two spent their afternoon with each other's company.
•
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"This should be a good place," Grimmjow looked around at a barren field, "We're a thousand kilometers away from any settlements, no one will be affected by our clash here."
"So we can go all out?" Asked Kenpachi as he stood in front of Grimmjow, with his Zanpakuto resting on his shoulders.
"Ichigo would probably berate us," Grimmjow shrugs, "So no Bankai for you, and no Segunda Etapa for me. Sounds good?"
During the war five years ago, some Arrancar, especially Grimmjow, Harribel, and Nelliel, managed to achieve Segunda Etapa.
And since Arrancar was incorporated to Gotei 13, it became a requirement for them to have a Segunda Etapa if they wanted to be promoted to a Captain.
"Sounds good," Kenpachi grinned, "Let's start! I've been itching for a fight ever since I heard about that other universe!"
"Hahaha! Same here!" Grimmjow pulled out his sword, "Mayuri better get it done quick or I'll cut him down myself."
The two stood a few meters away from each other. A large grin plastered on their faces as they face off.
After the war and when Grimmjow became a Captain, he and Kenpachi passed by each other and immediately acknowledge one another.
Without as much as a word, they crossed sword, creating a massive explosion that brought down a massive chunk of Seireitei which was under repairs at that time.
Ichigo was pretty pissed off at that time that he tied the two together and locked them in detention room. Strangely enough, it brought some sort of camaraderie and rivalry between the two battle hungry souls.
"Figured I'd find you two here."
Both Grimmjow and Kenpachi turned their attention to the newcomer who just spoke, and let out a bloodthirsty grin.
"What's this? Want to join in on the fun? Ichigo?" said Kenpachi.
"It's a free for all," Said Grimmjow. "Come on!"
Ichigo just smiled as he found a boulder and sat down on it, just in time for another pair of Shinigami arriving beside him.
They are Yumichika Ayasegawa, the current Third Seat of Eleventh Division along with Ikkaku Madarame, the Lieutenant Of Eleventh Division.
"Finally caught up!" Ikkaku took a deep breath and grinned seeing Grimmjow and Kenpachi about to duke it out, "Nice! I didn't miss it!"
"It's been awhile since I've seen Captain fight with his Shikai, he's surely going to use it here I'm sure." Stated Yumichika.
"Don't mind us," Ichigo raised his hands in mock surrender, "We're just here to watch."
"Huh?" Kenpachi narrowed his eyes, "Just watch? How boring."
"Tsk, and you made me excited for a second." Grimmjow clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Ichigo smiled wryly seeing their look, but what can he say? He was not interested in fighting right now.
He has a lot of things to think about, especially with the newly revealed universe that is planning on attacking them.
Soul Society was still not ready for war. They haven't fully replenished their forces even with Orihime's help reviving the dead and Arrancars joining them.
"Don't be such a pussy Ichigo, join in!" Ikkaku taunted, "Are you scared of fighting our Captain?"
Ichigo himself insisted that outside of any formal events, people are free to call him by his name without any added honorifics, because he finds it tiring when he was out to relax and all he heard are stern and formal greetings calling him Captain Commander.
"Hoh?" Ichigo felt his cheek twitch at that taunt, and decided to retort back, "…guess what, Ikkaku…"
"What?"
"Your sister calls me onii-chan too."
Ichigo smirked at the dumbfounded look of not only Ikkaku and Yumichika, but even Grimmjow and Kenpachi look stunned and stared at him in shock.
They could not believe those words just left his mouth.
Finally, having registered Ichigo's words, Ikkaku snapped back to reality with veins popped out on his head as he quickly unsheathed his Zanpakutō, "…you bastard …"
He leapt towards Ichigo, sword in hand, but was tackled down by Yumichika.
"Let me go! Let me go! Let me put some scars on this bastards face!"
"Calm down! Ikkaku, it was just a joke! A joke! Calm down!"
"I don't care! Let me at him! Let me at him! Don't you dare try anything funny with my sister you bastard! You manwhore! My sister doesn't even call me onii-chan anymore!"
Ichigo ignored the raging Ikkaku and stood up from the boulder he was sitting on and cracked his knuckles before walking towards Grimmjow and Kenpachi.
"Alright, I changed my mind. Let me join in on the fun." Said Ichigo, before unsheathing Zangetsu from his scabbard.
Unlike before, he learned how to seal his Zanpakuto, so he's not always on Shikai mode.
Speaking of which, his sealed Zangetsu resembled his bankai after regaining his powers during the Fullbringer shenanigans.
"Now we're talking," Kenpachi revealed a savage grin.
"Let's get on with it!" Grimmjow laughed.
Ichigo picked up a pebble, "Once this pebble hit the ground, we shall begin our fight."
He tossed it upwards, and within a few seconds it fell down to the ground.
Almost immediately, a massive explosion occurred, almost as if a meteorite hit the ground they were standing on.
"Fuck!?"
"My hair!"
Yumichika and Ikkaku were blown away by the shockwave that was surely felt throughout Soul Society.
Quickly, the two found a 'safe' place to hide and also observe the battle without bothering the three.
As the dust from the 'explosion' settled, Ichigo, Kenpachi, and Grimmjow were revealed.
Ichigo have his Zanpakuto raised, grinning while blocking the swords of Kenpachi and Grimmjow who attacked him on the same time.
"Oi, oi." Ichigo took a step forward, pushing the two backward, "I thought this is a free for all? Why are you two targeting me?"
"This is a free for all!" Grimmjow grinned as he pointed his other hand to Kenpachi beside him, "Cero."
Kenpachi's eyes widened in surprise as a flash of red light exploded on his face and sent him flying a good couple of hundred meters before managed to stabilize himself.
Despite that, Kenpachi remained completely unharmed.
"That guy's as tough as ever," Grimmjow cursed under his breath.
"Let's see if you're tough as well," Ichigo smirked as he pointed a finger at Grimmjow, "Cero."
The former Espada already expected such action and managed to evade it on hair's breath.
"Gotcha!" But Ichigo grabbed his face and slammed on the ground, and using his other hand fired another blast at point blank range, "Cero."
Ichigo jumped back from the explosion with a grin, not looking a bit worried knowing that Grimmjow won't go down of something from this level.
"Your back's wide open," Kenpachi grabbed Ichigo's shoulder and immediately raised his hand for a slash.
"Yours as well," but Ichigo appeared behind Kenpachi and delivered a stab.
Only for Kenpachi to disappear, dodging the attack, only to reappear immediately after but this time, facing him.
"Hahaha!" Kenpachi's laugh reverberated as he sent a downward slash at Ichigo, who quickly Shunpo'ed away from him.
However, just as Ichigo retreated, he immediately felt a threat behind him, and immediately maneuvered himself to dodge whatever danger he sensed.
"Tsk," Grimmjow clicked his tongue as Ichigo dodge the attack, "Why don't we take it up a notch?"
"Hahaha! Sounds fun!" Kenpachi agreed wholeheartedly.
"Sure," Ichigo shrugs, before pointing his Zanpakuto forward. "Cleave the heavens, —"
"Drink, —" Kenpachi raised his sword and rested it on his shoulders.
"Grind, —" Grimmjow caressed his blade.
Then, the Reiatsu of the three of them erupted. The sheer gravity and magnitude of their presence causes the space around them to distort, and causing a massive shaking in space.
Even Ikkaku was finding it hard to breath due to the sheer pressure the three captains were emitting.
It completely eclipses his even in Bankai.
"Zangetsu!"
"Nozarashi!"
"Panthera!"
