The Seireitei Invasion (6)

Standing on top of a building within the Seireitei, Sparks flew as their Zanpakuto's edges ground against one another. Neither Rukia nor Byakuya had the upper hand, causing them to break apart. Sliding on top of the roof of the building caused the tiles to break as they fell to the ground. 'She's gotten stronger.'

Rukia's strength was that of a lieutenant before she was taken away by Shen the fact she could hold him back proved something had changed. While Byakuya thought about her changes, Rukia didn't stand still using her speed to get up close in front of Byakuya. Twisting the direction of her Zanpakuto, Rukia swung her blade diagonally upwards as if wanting to cut Byakuya in two.

Reacting to Rukia's attack, Byakuya used Flash Step causing Rukia to cut nothing but air. Appearing on a different roof, Byakuya just landed when he noticed Rukia was already above him. Slicing downwards towards Byakuya, who positioned below her, Byakuya quickly dodged out the way taking a swift step back.

Rukia's attack was swift, cutting through the air, causing her blade to make a whistle-like sound. Dodging Rukia's attack, Byakuya looked down, noticing a cut appear on his scarf. Missing her second strike, Rukia dashed towards Byakuya, not giving him a chance to recover. Watching Rukia's approach, Byakuya pointed at Rukia as he spoke. "Sho."

As Rukia dashed at Byakuya, an invincible force shot out of his finger, hitting Rukia dead on staggering her for just a moment. Using that moment, Byakuya stepped back into the air. Returning his Zanpakuto to his sheath, Byakuya opened his hand as if holding a spear. "Bakudo Number 62 Hyapporankan." As Byakuya spoke, a square-shaped pole appeared in his hand that shone light purple.

Recovering from the sudden impact Rukia was uninjured as she looked up at Byakuya and saw what he was holding Rukia tried to turn around quickly. "Bakudo Number 4 Hainawa." As she turned began to dash away, Byakuya extended his other hand free of Hyapporankan as yellow lightning started to crackle before extending towards Rukia like a snake.

Moving so fast, it grabbed Rukia's leg, stopping her movement altogether. Rukia felt as though a weight was placed on her leg, making her unable to move. Before she could break, the Bakudo Byakuya had already thrown Hyapporankan down at her. As it flew, it began to multiply from one to tens to hundreds.

Holding her Zanpakuto to the incoming projectiles, Rukia swung her Zanpakuto deflecting the few of them she could. Rukia found her movement becoming more and more restrained as the yellow began to climb up her body to her arms. With her movement slowing, the hundreds of light purple pole's finally hit their target pinning Rukia to roof bellow her feet.

As the final few rained down onto the roof, Rukia found herself completely trapped. Each one her limbs had at least three poles pinning her down as the rest surrounded her like a cage. Looking down at Rukia Byakuya's clothes blew in the wind as he unsheathed his Zanpakuto.

Pointing the tip of his blade Rukia who was still trapped, Byakuya spoke. "Scatter Senbonzakura." Starting from the tip of Byakuya's blade slowly, the sword turned into cherry blossoms stopping at the hilt. Watching the ocean of pink light flood her eyes, Rukia stopped struggling as she whispered something no one could hear.

Hesitating Byakuya looked at the pinned Rukia for another moment before closing his eyes and directing the wave of cherry blossoms down on Rukia. Like waves crashing against rocks, Byakuya's Senbonzakura scattered as it crashed into the roof Rukia was on. If one was to look at the battle from a distance, it would look like an eruption.

"Looks like the situation is beginning to twist in my favor." Shen, who was sitting in the air dangling his leg, watched the battle at the Gate progress things began to take a turn. Other than the lieutenants, the captains were all occupied by Shen's orbs, not having the chance to help the Soul Reaper fighting against his creatures.

And while only a small dent was put into his army's numbers, the Soul Reapers were slowly being widdled away. "The more they try to hold them off, the more scattered they'll become." Although Shen's words spoke of the future, the signs were already beginning to show. As Soul Reapers clashed with his creatures, they were slowly being overrun.

"Sit upon the frozen heavens, Hyorinmaru!" A wave of ice washed over the area in front of Hitsugaya, attempting to block a snake-like Ki tentacle ripped through the battlefield, causing injuries to both sides before slamming into the ice wall. "Fall back!" Waving his Zanpakuto again, he created a wall of ice separating the Soul Reapers from the creatures.

Hearing his orders, the Soul Reapers quickly retreated back as the ice wall held off the enemy. At this point, the creatures had managed to push their way through the Seireitei, causing not only the captains to be separated from one another, causing their overall strength to diminish, but some of them had also been separated from their lieutenants.

Guarding a path leading to the Fourth Division barracks Soul Reapers from the Kido corps could be seen lined up in formation as Soul Reapers wielding their Zanpakuto's stood in front of them. As the members of the Kido corps raised their palms, they all began to chant. While they chanted, one of Shen's creatures could be seen coming around the corner down the path they were guarding.

Following that, one more and more began to come from around the corner until they became a swarm. As they got closer, Lieutenant Kira could be seen standing in front of the Kido Corps members as he yelled. "Fire!" On his command, the Kido corps members who were chanting stopped as high-temperature balls of flame appeared in front of their palms before being fired at the approaching mob.

As each orb hit, their targets explosions were creatures creating a wall of smoke. "Did we get them." A Soul Reaper asked as he held his Zanpakuto anxiously staring at the wall of smoke. However, his question was soon answered as something burst through the smoke. Although the Hado spells did decrease their numbers, a large amount was left as they charged towards the Soul Reapers.

Gritting his teeth, Kira walked out in front of the Soul Reapers as he issued another order. "Defend this path with your lives. We can't let them reach the Fourth Division Barracks!" Currently, due to how many Soul Reapers were injured, the Fourth Division Barracks was the place that needed to be protected the most. If Shen's creatures were to get there, then they would kill every injured Soul Reaper there and destroy the barracks in its entirety.

Meanwhile, in the temporary headquarters set up further into the Seireitei Head Captain Yamamoto could be seen sitting down listening to a report. "Were getting reports from the Fourth Division Barracks that they're being overrun and need reinforcements. The captains have all been separated and won't be able to arrive in time due to being outmanned in their respective areas."

As Yamamoto listened to the different reports, the main theme was the same. They were losing.