Canon KE-2: Dark Two Ten Five

[Douma]

Adalo is alive. Kagami was relieved. After he thought his competition was now with the Primera’s legacy, he would get the chance one day to directly confront the monster. Adalo may have been killed, but he was alive. And stronger than ever. That only meant that Douma had to keep growing, keep getting more terrible and powerful. The day would come when he confronted the Primera again, and when it happened, Douma would win. There was no alternative. It wasn’t a win-or-lose situation. He had to win.

Before Douma could reply verbally, a guard summoned him from outside his gate. The shards of glass from the mirror jabbed into his bleeding, handcuffed fists, but Douma didn’t even bother to clean the blood before following the guard out of the cell. He followed all directions like a good little prisoner. When they strapped him down, he waited quietly for the examiner to come and begin diving into his deep psychological state of mind. “Please state your name for the record.”

Douma smiled. “Douma. Just Douma. Wouldn’t it be easier to get this information with someone with particularly sharp energy sensory?” Of course, Douma had a special mental defense that prevented people from looking through his memory and personal information, but they should have at least tried that method first. Saeki, however, had no trouble speaking directly into his mind. Manami isn't thinking about you right now. But she's about to kill someone you used to like.[/i]

Who is she going to kill? Douma knew better than to play Saeki’s games anymore. He wasn’t even going to guess. There were few people he liked anyway. Now, he just needed to find out who was going to die and decide if it meant anything to him. The fact that Manami wasn’t thinking about him stung, but then again, he was more focussed on Adalo than her. Their love was dead. All that mattered now was revenge.

[Kento Waffles]

The interrogator cocked his head to the side quizzically. "A sensor? Only if we were to extract information from you, Mr. Murai. This is an evaluation of your character." Wait. Had he just said 'Murai'? As in, Kagami's last name? No, that was impossible. In fact, when the room echoed ever so slightly, Kagami would also have heard the echo say "Mr. Douma." But for some strange reason, the man's words, when spoken, had sounded as if he had said, "Mr. Murai." But, it seemed evident that he did not know Douma's identity. Of course not. How could he know? He had only just met the criminal named Douma, who had disguised his face as a Korean pop star.

Meanwhile, in Kagami's mind, there came more words from Saeki. Perhaps you should come visit me if you want to find out, Mr. Murai. Could Saeki be the one at fault for it sounding as if the interrogator had said those words? As if the interrogator somehow knew Douma's true identity? Something was off. For instance, this prison sealed people's abilities. Saeki was even farther than the lowest prison level, in such isolation that her powers couldn't reach beyond a few feet in front of her. Kagami Murai would know. He had gone to visit her. So, wait. How was she even speaking into his mind? And if she was using an ability to influence him, how was she doing it?

Meanwhile. . .

A guard was walking the halls silently. He liked to whistle when on rounds, but not when he was at a level from 1-9. At 10 and below, those whom he encountered wouldn't really encounter him. They were isolated enough that sound couldn't penetrate their prisons until the doors were opened. He could whistle freely among the monsters. In the higher levels, he could be heard and mocked. In a way, it served as reminding him that though levels 1-9 weren't as bad as anyone farther down, they too were still demons who must be taken seriously. There were no small fry in this prison. Everyone that arrived here was at least stronger than the average Lieutenant.

So, walking through the prison, the guard was holding food. It wasn't just rounds, after all. He was bringing a meal to one of the inmates who hadn't eaten in a few days. That was how it worked here. They gave food every few days, rather than daily. Sometimes it was only once a week. That was how miserable this prison was. Starvation was always an enemy. Arriving at this particular cell, the guard utilized a spell to create a small opening along the door, permitting him to slip the food tray in, and then used another spell to gently propel it to within reach of the chained up prisoner, who would be able to eat it, albeit with difficulty.

But if they should try anything during this one time vulnerability process, the guard would take them out with his sword, while they were starved and weak. The guard was proud of how shiny his sword was. It was practically reflective, because of how well he polished it. In fact, not practically. It was. Shiny enough for a Mod Soul named Sato Hoshi, the prisoner of this cell, to look at it with a gleam in his eyes, and then disappear into it as the guard turned away and the door resealed. For Sato Hoshi had a unique power. He could teleport into and between mirrors in his immediate vicinity. Or any reflective surface, for that matter, in his vicinity. And Sato Hoshi had been one who received a pill during the operation that had landed Douma and Asmokon in prison... A pill which allowed him to use his powers even with the cuffs on him.

And as the guard turned, Sato Hoshi was in his blade, and suddenly emerged from the sword, grabbing a hold of it and pulling it from the guard's grasp. The guard, in shock, turned to try and attack, but Sato Hoshi had been preparing for this. A quick chop, and there was decapitation. Dropping the sword after killing the guard, Sato Hoshi would take one of the guard's keys to undo his handcuffs, and would take the ring too afterward to patrol down the halls, searching for one of his long lost comrades... A comrade whom soon, they in the prison would all get to know. For Sato Hoshi was part of an elaborate plan. He had been for centuries.

[Ōkami Shihoin]

Play This

You all live in a world of…excess. Excess love. Excess food. Excess peace.

Those were not his words. This was something that was picked up on immediately. The Head of the Shihoin did not recognize those words uttered by the traitor, Hiroshi Shihoin. He did not recognize them because they did not belong to his uncle. From what he had known of Hiroshi, his uncle had never had that ideology. Those words belonged to someone else, someone he didn't know. Maybe they belonged to this new Hiroshi, this one that had lived in isolation for 10,000 years. But deep down, he knew that the words didn't belong to the uncle he had once known.

And so, the Head of the Shihoin gazed down upon his uncle in that enclosed dark space and attempted to listen to the man that had destroyed the family. Hiroshi’s words were…judgmental and lacked any sort of repentance. There was no guilt in his words. He had truly believed that what he had done for the family had been the right thing. And through his silent rage, Ōkami could only glare through his goggles at the guiltless Hiroshi Shihoin.

"You really believe that what you did was for the good of the family?" Ōkami began in a deathly calm voice. He was holding back his anger right now, until he could find out the truth. But even then, he could not come to kill this man, this man who had once been family to him. He could not bring himself to kill this man despite his anger because he was now the Head of the Shihoin. He had to be better than Hiroshi had been as Head. Better than his father had been. He would not kill Hiroshi, who sat here in this dank dark prison cell already withered away by his isolation.

And then, Hiroshi's words cut into Ōkami once more, "Ōkami... You can't protect the Shihoin Family." Not only did his uncle dislike his own brother being Head, but he had disliked any idea of Ōkami being head as well. And now he was finally hearing how his uncle truly felt about him. But wait, what was this? Ōkami suddenly began hearing things, voices being spoken far off. His vision started to swim and he suddenly became dizzy. He knew immediately what was going on, but he couldn't believe it. How could a man deprived of reiatsu and nourishment for all of these years have the strength to perform that technique? How was he even able to subjugate Ōkami with it? When had he cast it upon him?

There was no time to think about it because as soon as the dizziness had overtaken him and he had closed his eyes, the voices became louder and closer. He could make out the words now, and the owner's of the voice. His father and Hiroshi were having a conversation. Jiro... You can't protect the Shihoin Family. You're a broken leader, with a broken woman, and no Heir. You don't even have the courage to try to make a new one. Hell, you don't even have the courage to stop the Kawadas from burying us.

What was he seeing? Where were these images and this conversation coming from? Had this been during his absence? Did this conversation really happen or was Hiroshi using his famed illusionary abilities to implant a fake memory into his mind? But, Hiroshi continued on, "If you hadn't disappeared, and you had become Head, Jinbei Kawada would have steamrolled us. And Ginrei Kuchiki would have just watched."

No, no that wasn't true. Jiro had groomed Ōkami into being the most powerful Head after him. He had taught Ōkami noble politics, he had taught Ōkami about strength and wisdom, and he had taught Ōkami about so many other things he had experienced during his time as Head. Which families to watch out for and which to create alliances with. Ōkami had already been aware of the Shihoin Family's wariness of the Kawada and he had planned to handle them his own way. Not the way Hiroshi had ended up handling the situation. Why did Hiroshi believe that he was the only one who could lead the family?

And then, Ōkami saw it. No, he felt it more than saw it. He felt the moment Hiroshi betrayed his brother, betrayed the Shihoin. He felt the shock, most likely an emotion his father had felt at that moment. He felt the shock and the betrayal. And then he knew that his mother had been right. He had known deep down that she had been, but he had wanted to see for himself and now he had.

Deep anger lurched out from the Head of the Shihoin Family and he had even more trouble hiding it than he had had before. A scowl formed on his face and his lightning-like reiatsu began to leak out. Small sparks formed here and there in the air around his body. Not enough to draw attention to the cell, but enough for anyone close by to see and feel. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself before he addressed Hiroshi once more. "What makes you think my father didn't prepare me for the Kawada under your nose? What makes you think he hadn't had a plan for them? Jinbei would have steamrolled me you say? You don't even know the kinds of things Jiro made me do to prepare me for the Kawada." Ōkami was beginning to calm down a little, but that feeling...the feeling of his father being betrayed by his own brother wouldn't leave his mind. It was imprinted there and he would never ever forget it.

"The Kawada are nothing compared to what I experienced in Hueco Mundo. There are enemies the Soul Society hasn't even prepared for lurking there. And I've faced some of them already. If you're worried about the Shihoin family becoming more of a disgrace under my leadership than they were under yours, you don't have to worry. I'll take care of the family better than you ever could have." Ōkami basically spat those last few words, reversing the words Hiroshi had spoken to Jiro onto Hiroshi himself. There was a venomous quality to the way he had spoken those words to Hiroshi Shihoin. They had been meant to hurt, and also to let Hiroshi know that he had underestimated Ōkami. That he was infact still underestimating him. Ōkami would lead the family to greater power than they had ever been before. Because that was the kind of Head his father had groomed him to be. He was kind and level-headed like his mother but he could also be just as ruthless as both his father and his uncle if he was pushed far enough. This was something his father had never known about him, and one of the reasons why Jiro had doubts early on about Ōkami becoming Head.

---

As Jin approached the cell of the man named Steve Lee, he noticed that all of the guards were unconscious. When he finally made it infant of Steve Lee's cell, he found the mod soul to be reading a book. It wasn't just the fact that he was reading a book, it was the leisurely way in which he was doing it. It was as if he had no care in the world. As if he knew nothing about the guards that had suddenly dropped unconscious around him. At that moment, Jin knew that Steve Lee was not a mind to be trifled with. While he worked for someone else more powerful than himself, he too was someone that held power. The fact that he was here in the Senzaikyu signified his power and importance.

And so as Jin arrived at the cell, Steve Lee began with a question. Jin smiled beneath the image of the Shinigami's face that had been placed over his own. Somehow Steve Lee had known it was him. Deciding that it was best not to drop the simulated image incase any of the guards woke up, Jin addressed Steve Lee using Shiro Tetsuya's face in order to avoid showing his own. After all, he had taken off his mask before taking on Shiro's appearance.

"I'd ask how you knew it was me, but considering that these guards all happened to fall unconscious coincidentally before I got here says a lot about your strength. So, I won't belittle you by asking such a question." Jin began, speaking with Shiro's voice instead of his own. Gatz's simulation could simulate not only images but also sounds. That was what made Gatz's power good for situations like this. "I have been thinking about your proposal, yes. But first tell me this, what is it you all are planning? You said before that the two of us are working towards the same goal. I'm known as nothing but a mercenary who works for only himself. So then, how are our goals similar?"

Jin wanted to know what Steve Lee knew about him, well Anarchy. Before, Steve Lee had said that the two of them were working towards the same goal. But how could he know what Anarchy's true goal was? Those who knew of Anarchy only saw him as a mercenary who was only looking out for himself. But, that was only the image that Jin wanted people to see. The persona of Anarchy had been created to bring chaos into the Soul Society. To usurp the Gods of Death and destroy their system. So then, did Steve Lee know that this was Anarchy's true goal?

Gatz's Remaining Reiatsu: 2550/3000 (-50 for Tarnung)

Gatz Senses while using Zentraleinheit: 208

Active: Tarnung

[✠Asmoskon Masurao✠]

Asmoskon had no problem moving down throughout the floors now that he had his third bow active. None of the guards as of yet were able to even perceive him so to them he was never there no matter how close he got to them. Everything was going so easily that he had to stop for a few moments and make sure that he wasn't blindly walking into a trap. When he was satisfied that it wasn't the case he continued onwards and eventually after a few minutes found himself on the ninth floor. The reiatsu that he sensed upon reaching the floor was massive. It wasn't just the reiatsu of the Quincy he was searching for; there were many others on this floor that he felt would more then likely have the upper hand on him in battle.

When he got to the door Asmoskon felt for a moment that perhaps breaking the Quincy out could led to a massive advantage against the Vandenreich. He moved his right hand against the door and for a moment contemplated punching it down or utilizing one of his techniques to break it down. That was when he realized what the door was made of and knew that all hopes of actually getting passed it were virtually gone. That was when Asmoskon heard the voice of the Quincy and was caught slightly off guard. He tried to peer into the cell, but found nothing. "The stone is true to what I know. However, who says I'm here to get you out?" Asmoskon at the moment was actually conflicted on what to do. If he freed the Quincy he might be making a large move against his new family and allies in Soul Society. While at the same time perhaps gaining one of the best pieces against the Vandenreich.

[Kento Waffles]

First music

Hiroshi looked offended, as if Okami had said something stupid. No longer was he contemptuous, calm, or even condescending. Now, he changed. A sour look crawled upon Hiroshi's face, and he blurted out to Okami, his voice carrying loudly, all trace of having never spoken lost. "How can you be so blind, OKAMIIII?!" There was a panic in his eyes, too. If anything, Hiroshi could never be accused of not loving his family. He may have committed wrongs, but he did it out of love for the Shihoin. It was obvious by his demeanor, and his reaction. And these words, they were not borrowed. These words were his own. They were beliefs that he had possessed for thousands of years.

"Do you understand how strong Jinbei Kawada is?! How strong the Kuchikis are?! You think that you can do as your father taught you. Make allies with the same person. But the Kuchikis need us only for convenience, not power. They stand strong enough to lose us without batting an eye, and they would be willing to watch us burn against Jinbei. Perhaps you weren't here when the White Dragon appeared, but I was. And that day, I saw the might of Jinbei Kawada, and I knew that in twenty thousand years, the Shihoin have never once produced anyone that strong. There are monsters like me, and then there are cataclysms like Jinbei Kawada and that Kuchiki girl..."

Hiroshi was greatly disturbed by Jinbei. Was the Kawada's former Head really that strong? Come to think of it, Hiroshi didn't know modern politics. The Kawadas were weaker than they ever had been. Kochikochi had been wiped out by the Segunda Espada. His offspring, Shade, had been killed in action. And Kenryoku, too, was gone. In fact, the main bloodline had almost been extinguished, were it not for the reappearance of Shokan Kawada. Except that Shokan right now was spiritually wounded. Not powerful enough yet to bring the Kawada to good graces. The Shihoin, on the other hand, were growing. And machinations from all sides had led to them returning to greater power than their peak before they had fallen.

Hiroshi, stuck in prison, had no way of knowing this. So it was no wonder he was so worried. So scared. Could he have a point, however, about the Kuchikis? If they had really been that strong in the time of Ginrei, what could be said now? Under Sozen, they had become significantly more powerful than at any other time in history. They dominated all affairs of military and politics. Nowadays, without Enma around, nobles were the ones who controlled the courts. Enma couldn't do anything while gone. He had been the only one who could possibly check the nobles, given how powerful he was and how impossible to corrupt. Hiroshi might not be wrong about Okami needing caution.

---

Music 2

Meanwhile, there was Jin and Steve Lee. Or, Anarchy and Steve Lee. Who knew? Well, the Dungeon Master did. Anyway, there they were, and Steve Lee explained himself to Anarchy. "You hate the Soul Reapers, don't you?" he asked. "They've done something to you... Something to truly wrong you. Otherwise, why would you have taken that mission. It was tantamount to suicide. Sozen Kuchiki, Alexander Kuma-Hebi... Your group was no match for the gathering of Captains that was present. The biggest names in Soul Society were here, but of the big names of the human world, there was only you. And even you are no match for that combination of opponents. The only reason you'd have come is to hurt Soul Society a little and then escape."

"As for our goals, I work for someone you may object to. A Soul Reaper whose goal is to destroy all of this. What Soul Society today currently is. And though you may resent her being a Soul Reaper, she is one who is imprisoned, just as I and my comrades are. It wouldn't be accurate to call her the strongest, but it wouldn't be inaccurate to tell you that only she can destroy this place. Her ability is knowledge. Just by knowing everything, she understands fundamentally what to do to win. And if you were to join us, you would see her win and succeed. She is the greatest mind I have ever met. Now, all we need is brute military force."

Suddenly, there was a spike of reiatsu. "You must decide quickly," Steve Lee warned. "It's time to leave."

---

And then, there was Asmokon. Standing before a door he could not overtake without truly devoting himself to it, with a Quincy whom he might not want to free. But that Quincy seemed rather interested in what Asmokon had to say. "You needn't bother to free me," he said. "I realized just now that you aren't the one who will come for me. No, rather, it was foolish to think that you would be. I haven't been here for very long." So, someone else was coming to free this Quincy, regardless of Asmokon's actions. In that case, maybe it would be wise to just form an alliance with this Quincy for later. An alliance that would last after someone else had broken him out. That way, how could Asmokon get in trouble?

Well, besides being allied with a potential enemy. But the Kuchikis likely wouldn't fault him for that, even if Soul Society did. Sozen, after all, might see it as an opportunity to also ally with this Quincy. And Sozen Kuchiki was known to make dangerous allies. The only ones whom he wouldn't engage with were those of Hollow blood. The Vizards, the Arrancar. Though he might have once fought on Kuroi's side against Baal, Sozen had no intention of making that a regular event. It was well known that Sozen Kuchiki despised Hollows and would never ally with them. Therefore, Asmokon might just be able to form an alliance with this guy and get away with it.

---

Stop music.

Except that... Sato Hoshi had reached his destination. The first of the cells where he had been headed. That of the man named Petrov. Petrov, the Bount. And, far beneath Seireitei, in the deep underground, Sato Hoshi used a stolen key ring to open Petrov's door, and to free his ally of the spiritual Seki Seki cuffs. To everyone in the prison, the Bount's reiatsu would immediately become detectable. To Douma, to Okami, to Asmokon. To the guards. To Jin. Petrov had managed to escape. He had left his cell at the very least, and been freed of his cuffs. And as he was freed, he embraced his old friend Sato Hoshi in a warm hug.

"It has been too many years, Sato," Petrov said. "I did not expect to see you here." Sato smiled to Petrov knowingly. "Our mistress's plan was quite elaborate, if you've the time to listen." Petrov looked around, sensing incoming guards. "Later," he said. "Right now, we must leave." And his reiatsu began building up. In order to aid him, Sato put his hand against Petrov, and began pooling additional reiatsu into his old friend. This would greatly assist with the journey. Journey? Yes, journey. For they were about to embark on an unbelievable mission. A daring feat unlike anything that had ever been attempted previously.

"Zieg Dich, Rot."

AND NOW THIS!

And a giant red dragon, a serpent, a leviathan even, appeared immediately. How giant? Well, consider this. A skyscraper alone wouldn't be able to evaluate the true size of this dragon. The red dragon, which had a blue gem in its forehead, piercing yellow eyes, and two sets of ferocious jaws layered one atop the other. The huge red dragon, so big, that the prison walls couldn't hold it. For the prison, designed with a stone that could not be destroyed by most strength, and which was indestructible before spiritual attacks, had one weakness. If something were big enough, it could burst out. The architects had never counted on anything being nearly so colossal, but... this dragon was.

It was so large that as it appeared, Petrov and Sato atop it, it obliterated the walls of that floor, and inadvertently it destroyed the doors for all of the prisoners within. From the eleventh floor and up, all prison doors and walls were destroyed as the dragon soared into the sky, ripping through the earth and taking itself above Seireitei. An entire third of the prison was destroyed in a single moment. Douma, in his interrogation room, would suddenly be uprooted from his seat and sent flying into the air, his interrogator blown back by the dragon shooting out. And he would sense the reiatsu of Darnell, and dozens of others who had been freed.

Asmokon, too, would be blasted away by the dragon appearing, and the door housing the Quincy would be torn open. But, dust, destruction, and rubble would separate them instantly, and Asmokon and Douma both would actually have to get out as quickly as possible, for legions upon legions of stone fell upon them. If they allowed themselves to be buried, they would be crushed and killed without fail. The dragon had literally torn through everything and taken it down. It was so massive, so ungodly massive... Jin and Steve Lee too would be uprooted as the Senzaikyu was literally shaken to its core, and the red dragon wrapped around the tall white tower several times over, enclosing them in darkness.

"There are my comrades," Steve Lee said. "It's now or never."

Only Okami, who was with Hiroshi, several floors under, would be untouched, for that first moment anyway. But, that was before Petrov summoned his next doll. A huge blue monstrosity as large as a skyscraper, fashioned from stone, and with glowing eyes. The same doll that Jin had already seen before. And with its mighty power, it raised its enormous fist, flames, magma, and more coating it, and crashed down, punching into the prison as it descended with huge black wings of its own. The monstrous blue stone doll's fist collided with the floor, and it crashed through like a drill. Lava exploded out everywhere as it did, and it continued to burrow.

Dozens of prisoners had already been killed by the red dragon's ascent. Now, shackled and without powers, many more would be killed as the blue beast dove down further into the prison, crashing through level by level. It would soon pass Okami's level, shattering through from the ceiling above, and obliterating the floor and all the doors in the hall at once. Hiroshi was quick to act, and suddenly, his cuffs and chains were broken, and he was free. How was not certain, but Hiroshi, with a grin, bounded from the wall and disappeared in a flash step, going downward and following the blue monstrosity which crashed through the floor, headed to some unknown destination.

[Kento Waffles]

OOC: Posting order is no longer in effect. As long as your post follows one of mine, you may post any time. I will encourage individuals of each of you to post regularly.

[Ōkami Shihoin]

Ōkami’s eyes widened beneath the tinted goggles. He was shocked to see the way in which his uncle, Hiroshi, talked about Jinbei Kawada. He described him as a monster, no a cataclysm, that the Shihoin had never been able to produce in the twenty thousand years of the family’s existence. Was Jinbei Kawada that fearful? If so, then why were the Kawada so weakened now? Why didn’t Jinbei reclaim his position as Head and lead the Kawada into the glory days they once knew? ”I guess you hadn’t heard since I’m the first one who’s come down here to speak to you,” Ōkami said when his uncle finished speaking. ”The Kawada lost their power before I came back. An Espada slew Kochikochi Kawada and then both his sons, Shade and Kenryoku Kawada died during each of their respective reigns as Head. The Kawada are weaker now than they ever have been.” Ōkami gloated, though this wouldn’t be discernible in his voice. Instead, his voice remained monotone and emotionless, something he had been taught through the Ōnmitsukido.

His golden maize eyes surveyed his uncle as his mind went into motion about the last part of what Hiroshi had said. That Kuchiki girl… Was he referring to Sozen’s younger sister? Saeki Kuchiki? But she had died…at least that was what had been told to all of the noble families. Ōkami had been there the day when his father had received the news from a representative of the Kuchiki family. He had remembered the young girl very well from the brief moments he had seen her with Sozen at various noble gatherings. And back then when he had heard that she had died, he had been deeply saddened. Was Hiroshi referring to back then? When she had still been alive? But how could such a young girl be considered a monster?

He was about to open his mouth again to question his uncle when he felt a reiatsu signature spike within the prison. It was powerful, and had a discernible feeling to it. He had sensed that reiatsu once before, when he had fought someone with a similar reiatsu signature during the Holocaust War. A Bount had gotten into the prison. And not just any Bount, a powerful one. Could this be Jin Yamada? Here? No, this reiatsu is different from his…and the files said that he was supposed to be dead despite there being no body. Ōkami remembered the Bount Leader well. He and Benkei had fought against the man during that mission. Jin had claimed to be the Bount Leader and back then, his reiatsu had been powerful. But Ōkami couldn’t remember anything else about him because he had been ambushed by Jin’s comrade, Yuurei, before himself and Yuurei had then been sent to Hueco Mundo. It could be Yuurei, given that the two of them had split up while in Hueco Mundo. But why would he be here?

Before he knew it, the prison began rumbling and shaking. It hadn’t occurred on their floor yet, but he could hear the vibrations and the destruction occurring on floors above this one. His eyes looked towards Hiroshi and then he looked away again, attempting to search for a guard nearby. If there was something going on, he would be needed. As a Captain of the Gotei Thirteen, his job in this situation would be to prevent prisoners from escaping. And so, his eyes began scanning for a guard nearby to let him out of the prison. But that was when the ceiling outside of the cell was shattered and something large and blue descended. He was blasted back against the wall as the large blue monstrosity shattered the floor and continued downwards. ”Oh snaps!” he said in a mellow tone and turned towards his uncle, only to see that he was no longer shackled. With a grin, Hiroshi leapt out of the cell and made his way down into the hole that had been created.

”Wait! Ōkami was quick to follow after his uncle. With a shupo, he kicked off of the wall he had been blown back into and made his way down into the hole. Stop, Hiroshi!” he called out to his uncle as the two of them descended behind the blue monstrosity. What’s going on and where is he headed?! He would have to find that out later. Right now, his main objective was to stop his uncle from escaping. He reached out and caught onto a wall to his left before using reiatsu to form a platform under his feet to stand on. Aiming his right hand at the older Shihoin, Ōkami’s reiatsu suddenly flared. And then before Hiroshi knew it, six beams of light formed in front of him, aiming to slam into his midsection as he fell into them. Ōkami’s had been aiming ahead of Hiroshi rather than directly at the other Shihoin so that when the beams formed, they could catch Hiroshi as he fell. Ōkami’s mastery of the Bakudo would allow him greater control over the speed and precision of their appearance, something he was using to his benefit to overwhelm the physically and spiritually weakened older Shihoin. From there, he leapt off of the platform and descended down towards his hopefully bound uncle. He was wary as he descended, for he knew that Hiroshi could still affect him with that power, just as he had in the cell before.

---

Meanwhile, Jin found himself smiling beneath the projected image of the Shinigami’s face. He was smiling because of Steve Lee’s accurate analysis behind his reasoning. The man was quite intuitive and exceptionally good at seeing things for what they were. In the future, Jin would keep this in mind. Steve Lee wasn’t someone who could be used, or even tricked. Unless one went about it the right way. From his analysis, Jin could tell that Steve Lee was a man who could see through a facade. ”You’re right. What the Shinigami did to me and my race is unforgivable. But, what I do is not for revenge. It’s to protect the race that I would give my life for. That’s what a leader does.” Jin said, letting information slip about himself. He wasn’t sure if Steve Lee would catch it, but he figured if the man was going all this way to recruit him, he would pay him back by giving him some information about his true identity.

Jin took a step towards Steve Lee’s cell as the man told him to decide. ”I don’t care what she is. I’ll work with anyone to destroy the flaws in this system. Why should I sit back and let her have all the fun bringing it down? My goal is to bring anarchy to Soul Society and build a new one. One that doesn’t discriminate against other races. One that lets Bount, Mod souls, Failures, and humans live in peace.” he said passionately. He grabbed the mask from his trench coat beneath the projected image and was about to put it on. It was at that point that he felt the large reiatsu spike. It was Petrov! He was in the prison too. But before he could continue rejoicing, the rumbling began. And Jin could feel the prison shaking all around him. Then before he knew it, he was enclosed in darkness. He felt a second surge in reiatsu and knew that it must be Petrov. So this was why he had let himself be captured…

The prison began shaking once again and Jin could literally feel it crumbling as the blue monstrosity burrowed through the prison. He turned towards Steve Lee and grinned. It was at that moment that Gatz dropped the simulation, revealing the both of them to Steve Lee. As the simulation disappeared, Jin was in the process of slipping on his mask, which meant that Steve Lee would obtain a small glimpse of his true face. Steve Lee would be able to see the lightning bolt shaped scar on the right side of Jin’s face. But this was all he would see before the white porcelain mask with the large red letter ’A’ covered the entirety of his face. And in that modified voice which belonged to Anarchy, Jin addressed Steve Lee once more, ”I’m in. Now how do I bust you out of here, friend?”. He emphasized the word to symbolize their newfound partnership.



Ōkami’s Remaining Reiatsu: 2825/3000 (-25 for Advanced Airground, -150 for Bakudo #61: Rikujokoro)


Gatz's Remaining Reiatsu: 2550/3000 

[Kento Waffles]

Hiroshi of the Shihoin family. Of the Shihoin family. It was evident in all of them that they prized themselves for their abilities in stealth and speed. Even the alleged Kuchiki Assassins weren't invisible in the way the Omnitsukido were. Even when Kenryoku Kawada had formed Tsunami, he had kept Omnitsukido because he had recognized its value. Every single member of the Shihoin prided themselves on their speed, or stealth, or both. So how much more true this was for a man of the main bloodline, such as Okami or Hiroshi. Even as Rikujokoro began to form, Hiroshi rocketed down, unperturbed. An Utsusemi had crafted an afterimage which appeared to be caught by the Bakudo, but soon started to fade as Hiroshi continued down.

And thus, Okami would be made to descend with him. Descend, and be followed by the giant red serpent and the mighty blue beast, both of whom obliterated the prison further and further down. What was worse than the prison being destroyed was the fact that some criminals were tough enough to actually survive and get out as a result of the prison's destruction. The first nine floors had held prisoners mostly too weak to survive, so they of course had been squashed. Killed by Petrov's might. But, on the lower levels, there were many who could not only survive, but thrive, and would escape to cause havoc another day, after they had regained full strength.

Hiroshi might well be one of those, and as he descended, bringing Okami with him, at last they would reach somewhere that they shouldn't. A huge, gaping hole at the bottom showed that they were done burrowing. Down, in the lowest five floors of the prison, there were monstrosities who were unthinkable. On the fifth to last of those floors was a huge monolith of what appeared to be stone. It looked like a mere cube, and was quite far under the floor above it. Unlike previous floors of the prison, which had possessed cells, this monolithic stone was all that existed on that floor. Could it be that it housed only a single prisoner?

Hiroshi would land in front of the entrance of the giant stone--A small door that could fit only one. Now, supposedly the security of the thing was supposed to be the greatest. It was of an indestructibility that not even the red serpent dragon or the blue stone deity could penetrate--And they tried, too. The dragon opened its two mouths, and huge bursts of fire and spiritual energy blasted against the stone, but to no avail. The blue deity's mighty fist slammed into it, but to no avail. Hiroshi and Okami should both be before that entrance, by now. They would both be able to see what was coming. And what was coming was indeed great.

"A lot has changed since they put me away," Hiroshi acknowledged. "Espada... I don't have a clue what that is. If the Kawadas have gotten weaker, then that's good. But if Jinbei Kawada is alive, then you have no place feeling safe. That you aren't plotting against him just means you're under his thumb already..." Hiroshi had a great, petrifying fear of Jinbei Kawada. And, really, he had been very passionate if Okami thought back to when Hiroshi had first started to express his fear of the Kawadas. Many had assumed that he had just adopted thoughts from the previous generation. But could it be that it had been Jinbei Kawada that pushed him to those fears?

---

"Oh, you don't have to worry," Steve Lee told Jin, standing up. The bars of his cell eroded very suddenly, and dissolved into nothingness. It was as if they had rusted very quickly and then come to nothing. There had been no reiatsu flare, so it meant that the technique had been activated much, much earlier. This was just an after effect, and not spontaneous destruction. Steve Lee had been waiting to be greeted. He walked out, unperturbed, and kept smiling. "Let's go meet her," he said. And he too jumped into the hole, urging the man who called himself Anarchy to follow. Down, down, down... To meet the Soul Reaper who could defeat the Seireitei.

---

Petrov arrived down there, too, soon after Hiroshi and Okami. He had come with Sato Hoshi, and both of them stood, looking around. "You need more power," Sato chided. Petrov sighed, and his two other dolls suddenly vanished. "Yes, I do..." he admitted. But he seemed reluctant. If he was anything like most Bount, then he had a third doll, and it was likely his most powerful. In fact, it was that he seemed reluctant that indicated its power. Did he just not like calling on it? Still, that stone imprisonment was impenetrable by most means. It was too powerful. Whoever had been the architedct had truly done a fantastic job with it.

"Ziege Dich, Aster!" Petrov called. A gold glow enveloped the room, blinding everyone for a second. And by the time they recovered their eyesight, they would behold a majestic beast of angel wings and the head of a bird, yet teeth of a dragon. It was indeed a dragon, but unique in figure, glowing, and appearing to be fashioned from glimmering gold. Radiant light poured off of the beast, which alone gave off an aura far greater than even the other two dolls. They, who had already been amazing, were offput by this god which was something else entirely. In a league of its own. As it appeared, it balled up very suddenly, becoming a glowing, floating gold sphere.

The sphere descended, falling upon the prison. Just as they touched, the sphere disappeared and gold fire instead erupted over the prison, which soon was ashes. The fire then fizzed out, having destroyed its target. All that could be seen, then, left over, was a silhouette in the smoke. Standing up as the smoke abruptly cleared, that silhouette wasn't very tall. But it was very skinny. Slender, feminine, but still too thin. Terribly malnourished, and pale, the woman who stepped forth was physically in her early twenties. She would have been one of the most beautiful women ever to live, were it not for her lack of proper nourishment.

Countless metal restraints fell from her body, unlocked, and clattered to the floor. The woman beneath wore a loose fitted white robe. She was pale skinned, thin in a skeletal way, and had high cheekbones and cracked lips from dehydration. But her eyes were a piercing blue, like a sapphire glimmering in the sea. Her hair was black and long, silky, but greasy from lack of wash, and fell around her shoulders. She didn't look very good, but that's what centuries of imprisonment will do to you. She looked up, through the hole in the ceiling that had guided them all here, and took in the sight of the sun for the first time in a long time.

She looked around, smiling coldly. Jin and Steve Lee would arrive then. Okami was now surrounded by enemies. Plus, Asmokon and Douma, both still far above, would suddenly feel the immense reiatsu that had appeared, and would feel one more thing when it dissipated. The woman's probing. Now, it felt as if someone could see into their souls. Their darkest secrets. As if their spirits were stripped naked and laid bare. Because now the one who could read everything about them with just one glance had been released from imprisonment. The greatest fear of the Head of the Kuchiki family. His sister, who could bring the world to its knees. Saeki Kuchiki.

And when she spoke, it was softly, but audible to all there.

"I'm famished," she said.

[✠Asmoskon Masurao✠]

Asmoskon continued to stand before the cell of the Quincy and listened to the words that this individual spoke. He couldn't tell just yet whether yet which gender this individual held from the distance and tone of their words yet that little detail rarely played any essential role in any situation. Now though Asmoskon had picked up on the information that there was a rescue for this individual already in the works. This meant that whoever was in the room had other allies and might have allowed himself to be captured the entire time. He had to investigate this further and find out what was going on not just for himself anymore. If there was other Quincy coming to rescue whoever was in this cell they would need to fight down to this level. Soul Society would be dealt a vicious blow which could strike a blow in what Asmoskon was working to accomplish by forming a race wide alliance with them.

"I have an offer to extend to you. I haven't the foggiest idea of your identity yet the guards are all murmuring that you're strength surpasses my own. That bit along with the status of your freedom from the Vandenreich allows me to extend you my aid if we can come to an agreement here and now." Asmoskon starred into the cell through the small opening that was normally used to feed the prisoners. "I'm capable of breaking you from this prison here and now. If such a thing is done you needn't risk the lives of your comrades." Asmoskon wanted for a response from the Quincy. He hadn't voiced his side of the bargain just yet as it would make this individuals choice harder along with Asmoskon not having the opportunity to utilize a debt between the both of them.

That was when Asmoskon suddenly felt the ground that he was standing on begin to shake and he knew that something terrible had just happened. There was something very wrong occurring and the only thing that he could think of was some type of prisoner had been released. It wasn't the Quincy on the other side of the door in front of him he knew that for sure, but that was when he truly felt something crawl up his spine and gorge upon his memories. He could tell that someone or something was inside of his mind right now going through everything about him and there was no way for him to repel it. Whatever it was Asmoskon knew that for some reason or another the reiatsu felt similar and he was going to have to stop whatever this was.

[Douma]

Saeki was in his head. Douma was almost struck dumb when he heard the interrogator call him by his old name, ‘Mr. Murai.’ Had the room not echoed and had he been unable to read the man’s lips, Douma’s plan would’ve hit a bump in the road. He would have had a major setback. And Saeki knew this, so she could mess with him as much as he wanted. He was her toy. Perhaps you should come visit me if you want to find out, Mr. Murai. She played her card and she won. He couldn’t say no.

Douma’s wrists twisted in the handcuffs, a visible show of his discomfort, but not weakness. It seemed like he was ready to break the cuffs off. “You won’t learn anything about me from talking.” Douma was a man of action. He didn’t mouth off like Kagami used to. He was smarter than that. Less arrogant. More focused. He knew he was going to get a taste of freedom very soon. Soul Society wasn’t calling the shots here anymore. If Saeki was able to communicate to other prisoners, they were all her pawns, and the odds are that she could control them as well as or better than she manipulated Douma. When are you going to get rid of these chains so we can have our little reuinion?


And that's when Douma heard it. There was a thundering rumble coming from somewhere distant, but it was growing louder. He couldn't identify the direction where it came from, but he understood what was going on. A massive break out. He didn't move an inche. Not yet. He still didn't have his abilities yet, and the handcuffs weakened him. He needed to wait just a bit longer. The interrogator and the guards must be in disbeliefs, but if Douma attempted to overpower them, he'd be quickly subdued. He was outnumbered and unarmed. It was up to Saeki and her army now. She was the King. She called the shots.

[Kento Waffles]

OOC: Seriously? No one is reacting to the prison being literally obliterated? You guys are no longer in a static place. The whole thing is collapsing around you.

[Douma]

(( OOC: My bad xD I tagged in a little short edit to my post to take into account the destruction of the prison. For now, I'm assuming that it hasn't quite reached the interrogation room but it's almost there. Waiting on Saeki now ))

[Ōkami Shihoin]

Hiroshi Shihoin was one of the most powerful Shihoin of his generation. A man that was utterly devoted to strengthening himself to prove to the council that there had been a mistake in choosing his older brother as Head of the Shihoin. Hiroshi Shihoin was a man that had grown powerful very quickly, and risen to challenge even the likes of his elder brother. While Jiro was more skilled than Hiroshi, Hiroshi had more drive and determination to win and to succeed. Thus, it was that driving passion and determination which ultimately, turned Hiroshi into one of the most powerful Shihoin of his generation alongside his two brothers. So, it wasn't much of a surprise when Hiroshi easily evaded the Bakudo which his nephew had tried to use to snare and bind him. What was surprising, however, was how quickly he was able to move after being locked up for so long without nourishment.

He's still fast enough to use Utsusemi?! But...his body is in no condition to move that fast!

The Shihoin Head was quite shocked at the speed with which his uncle had been able to move. It didn't take much to realize that he had captured only an afterimage of his Uncle. While he had chosen not to spend his efforts learning the technique, he still knew the basics of it enough to know when it had been used. Hurry and catch him. I've taught ya to be faster than that, so don't let me down! That was the voice of Kyukyoku no Kasokuki chastising the Shihoin Head for his lack of speed in comparison to his uncle. The anthropomorphic cheetah would never let anyone be faster than Ōkami, given that he had personally trained the Shihoin Head in speed ever since the two of them had first come to know one another. I'm doing my best...just didn't expect him to move like that given his body's condition...

He wouldn't make the same mistake twice. He would capture Hiroshi the second he had a second chance. But, for the moment, they were landing! Ōkami found himself landing onto one of the beams and then spring boarding from there onto the wall to his left. He leapt off of that wall and onto another wall further down on his right. He continued descending like this, using his parkour skills to time each jump carefully. In this way, he found himself moving downwards diagonally rather than fretful. Each distance he leapt downwards took him much further than if he had continued allowing himself to free fall. Finally, Hiroshi landed at the bottom of the tunnel that was formed by that blue behemoth and Ōkami landed soon after him. "You're wrong. Times have changed since you've been imprisoned here." Ōkami retorted in response to his Uncle's words. He was about to call the man once more, to threaten him to stop fleeing until he saw the giant red dragon and blue behemoth blasting away at the giant stone cube before them. Who could have been imprisoned in such a structure?

The Shihoin head turned immediately when he sensed two more reiatsu signatures appear in the room with them. He could tell immediately that the two before him were a Bount and a ModSoul. The Bount standing before him was the one that had summoned the two giant dolls trying to open the monolith stone cube that was presented before him. "As a Captain of the Gotei Thirteen, I cannot allow any of you to release whatever prisoner is within that cell." Ōkami commanded in a powerful voice. Reiatsu began moving around him, forming small bursts of lightning here and there as it grew more and more powerful. His reiatsu began shrieking with the sound of a thousand birds chirping at once, giving more ferocity to the form of the reiatsu now surrounding his body. And yet, he remain ignored. He could only watch as the Bount summoned a third doll, one that shone with a brilliant golden hue. The third doll, which was clearly more powerful than the first two, destroyed the monolith of stone in a burst of raw power and magnificence. For once in his time as a member of the Ōnmitsukido, Ōkami let his emotion show on his face. His mouth hung open and a look of shock became visible in his face. His reiatsu, which had been flaring powerfully immediately died down.

"Oh snaps...what have you done?!" he asked, directing the question mostly towards his Uncle, the only person he knew in the room. His facial expression shifted from one of shock to one of annoyance and anger. Yet again his Uncle was betraying the family and Soul Society. "Have you not betrayed our family enough already! Have you not shamed us enough..." Ōkami questioned his Uncle. But, before he could get an answer, he saw the lithe silhouette stepping out from the ashes and dust created by the stone cube's destruction. When he saw who it was that stepped out, he was once again taken aback. "Saeki? Saeki Kuchiki?" the Shihoin Head asked incredulously. He was at a loss for words. "But your family told us you were dead. It was never true?" It couldn't be. He recognized the woman's face from the last time he had saw her. While she had indeed grown older since the last time they had seen one another, the resemblance was there. The woman standing before him was indeed Saeki Kuchiki in the flesh.

The Shihoin Head took a few deep breaths to calm himself. Here he was at the center of the largest prison breakout in Soul Society history. He was here, at the center of it all, surrounded by enemies with three more on the way, and standing before a ghost of his past. Anyone else would have probably freaked out by now, but the Ōnmitsukido had taught him well how to handle situations like this. As a member of the Black Ops division, he had faced situations like this many times. "So...this was what it was all about," Ōkami said suddenly. While he didn't know much, he was going to act like he did. And see how much information he could get them to slip up about the operation that had led to Saeki's release. "The recent attack on the Soul Society was never about succeeding, was it? It was about getting in here..."

"You guessed it, 'ol chap."

Ōkami spun at hearing that modified synthetic voice which answered his question. And he got another surprise when he saw who it was that had just landed before him. "You're working with them too? Is that so, Anarchy?" the Shihoin Head asked the mercenary, who's strength he had read was on par or even stronger than that of Okusa Shogen's, a man known as a monstrosity when it came to battle. If this mysterious mercenary, Anarchy, was also working with them, then he might not be able to get out of this one as intact as he had hoped. While the mod soul and Bount were strong from what he could sense of their reiatsu, he was confident that he could at least handle the Bount with his shikai, given how drained he would be from summoning multiple dolls at once. His uncle would also be a challenge, but given the man's frail state, Ōkami could eventually obtain the apprehend against him. However, now that Anarchy had arrived on the scene along with another mod soul, his chances were growing slimmer. His only option was to live to fight another day. That or release Bankai, but there were too many people around. He'd die before he released it with this many people watching. So for now, he would get answers.

Meanwhile, beneath the mask, Jin Yamada smiled that famous smile of his. The man before him was someone he knew, long long ago. He didn't remember the man's name, but he knew his face. He couldn't forget that man's face and bald head. The tattoo on his chest was also something that he had never forgotten. The man before him, a Shihoin from the looks of the tatoo, had cost him one of his greatest friends during the Holocaust War. Because of the man before him, Yuurei had been lost in Hueco Mundo. Who knew whether he was dead or alive now. Either way, because of this man, Jin would never get to see his friend again. If he got the chance to kill the Shihoin today, he would take it. But first, he needed to greet his new ally. With a small bow, Jin greeted the woman before him. "Greetings. You can call me Anarchy. I heard you were bringing chaos to Soul Society and thought I'd join in on the party. What do you say? Room for one more?"

Ōkami’s Remaining Reiatsu: 2775/3000 (-50 for Shunpo from last post)

[Kento Waffles]

OOC: Gonna post as if both Asmokon and Douma have arrived at where Saeki is. How they got there will be up to you guys. Note that the prison has been literally demolished around you, so make sure to post something logical, because otherwise the collapsing prison will kill you.

IC:

Saeki paced around, taking note first of Anarchy's words. "Of course," she replied with a charming smile. "You're more than welcome to join us, Jin Yamada, Leader of The Bount and heir to Kassen Oro." The last part resonated only inside of Anarchy's mind, and was not spoken out loud. What Anarchy probably didn't know, being an outsider to Soul Society, was Saeki's ability. Her ability to read people's souls and reiatsu was unheard of. It wasn't just potent. It was the sharpest ever to exist. Just by meeting someone physically, Saeki knew everything about them. What was more, she also knew everything about all of the people they considered most significant in their lives.

Then, Saeki cast her gaze to Okami. "You won't be stopping us. I planned every second of this centuries ago." Then, Saeki glanced over to Hiroshi. "Well? Is your body functional?" she asked him. Hiroshi bowed his head with a smile before replying. "I've been half metal for centuries now, but this is my first time moving so much with them. We'll have to wait and see. For now, though, I am out of reiatsu." It might seem as if Hiroshi had been partially modified by Saeki or someone else. If Saeki had been planning this for centuries, though, she had to have planned it before Hiroshi went into prison. And if his being here when she broke out was part of the plan, then that meant... he had been in on it with Saeki all along. It was even possible that the Shihoin revolt had been part of Saeki's plan.

If Douma said anything, Saeki ignored it and didn't reply. If anything, that was actually to his benefit, too. She could reveal his identity right here in front of a Captain, and then it would be over for him. His plans would be crushed prematurely. What was dangerous about Saeki was that she knew his plans. All of them. And not just his, but the plans of everyone else that was his major ally too. Having abandoned what he considered bonds in favor of what he considered partnerships and alliances, he had made it possible for Saeki to learn far more than she had when reading just Kagami Murai. Her knowledge was a very dangerous weapon.

Just then, the mystery Quincy from earlier appeared. It really was an old man, and one with a heavy beard and deep bags under his eyes, also a bald head. Asmokon, actually, as a Quincy, would fully recognize something about the man. A feature. A tattoo on his forehead of a black bird pecking at a worm. That was the exact same symbol that had been held by Shauna Melody, a former Leader of all Free Quincy in the time before the Vandenreich. She had been incredibly powerful, having developed a method of possessing "infinite reiatsu." So who was this guy? He was pretty tough from the looks of it. He was a great asset for Saeki to have in her army.

Actual Bleach Music

Suddenly, numerous shadows began to emerge out of flash steps, and materialized, taking form as figures from the Seireitei who had come to check out whatever this madness destroying the prison was. And there were many powerful figures. Several Captains were present, as well as several Lieutenants. Most notably, Sozen Kuchiki himself had just arrived, and now was facing his little sister eye to eye, gazing at her blankly. Even more impressive was the huge, bulky figure in white robes who had a gray beard and powerful arm muscles. This was the Captain Commander himself, who had graced this area with his presence. Now, the field was much more even.

It wasn't just Okami surrounded by enemies. It was Saeki and her forces, squaring off in a tense face-off with several Captains, including the strongest of Seireitei's Captains, and the Captain Commander himself. There were murmurs from among the Soul Reapers that had arrived. The infamous Saeki Kuchiki was alive?! Rumor had it that she had been dead. No one even knew why or how she had died, only that she had. Of all those present, it was Sozen Kuchiki alone who knew the truth. And who knew why she was alive, too. "You're finally here, Sozen," Saeki mocked, stepping forward. Considering how poorly nourished she was, she too was impressive in energy, just like Hiroshi. Then again, Hiroshi's body had been modified for just this occasion of malnourishment.

"If you turn yourself in, this will turn out a lot more easily, Saeki," Sozen advised. At this, Saeki started laughing. "Oh please, Sozen. If you had the grit to kill a member of your own family, you would have killed me years ago." Looking at it, Saeki actually had a lot of powerful allies, now. Petrov, Sato Hoshi, and Steve Lee were already incredibly powerful, but in addition to them, she also had Anarchy, the mystery Quincy, and Hiroshi. Saeki had enough firepower to at least do a huge amount of damage by going toe to toe with even the other present Soul Reapers. All, of course, save one, whose presence tipped the scales so much that it seemed unlikely that Saeki could escape.

Stepping forward, the Captain Commander made his declaration. "Saeki Kuchiki. Centuries ago, you were labeled a traitor to Soul Society, and sentenced to the rest of your life in imprisonment. If you do not return to a cell this instant, then I will personally crush the life out of your bones. You do not want to fuck with me today, girl..." The Captain Commander, unlike others, was not the least bit intimidated by Saeki's forces. And why should he be? He was the strongest Soul Reaper alive today. He could probably fight all of Saeki's forces head on. Saeki, however, remained perfectly calm. Her eyes fell toward Douma.

"You know, Douma, now would be the time to choose sides. Mine or theirs?"

[Douma]

Luck was responsible for Douma’s survival of the prison’s collapse. Complete and utter dumb luck. The interrogation level was only a couple of floors below the surface, but he was still completely vulnerable to the crumbling rubble. When the ceiling began to crumble, pipes came loose. A pipeline responsible for carrying some sort of substance similar to liquid nitrogen came loose just above the head of the guard in the room, freezing his brain and killing him instantly, before he could even struggle. Douma felt the rush of cold and jumped out of his seat, pivoting to get behind the guard. While keeping himself away from the leak in the loose pipe, he swung the chain connected his handcuffs at it. The cold infected the metal like a disease, allowing him to slam his wrists onto the concrete wall to shatter the metal like it was glass. The pain forced a grunt from his abdomen, but it was worth it. His powers rushed through his body like adrenaline.

The interrogator was slower. He failed to understand what exactly was occurring. How could the world’s greatest prison be falling apart? As he stared in wonder at Douma’s escape, the ceiling began its total collapse. The rubble killed him instantly. Douma could expect the suffer the same fate if he wasn’t quick on his feet. And fortunately, he was. Three stone pillars shot out from around him at an incredible speed, slamming into the falling ceiling and protecting him from the debris. More than that, however, they created a path to the outside word. By creating a fourth pillar to carry him up, he had succeeded in breaking out.

And what a site there was to see. Douma emerged just a hundred feet from Petrov when Saeki was released. Douma witnessed the breaking of her chains as she re-entered the world of the first time in… decades? More? And the world was not ready for Saeki. Sato Hoshi, Anarchy, and two other strangers had appeared at that moment as well. Okami Shihoin was present, but he was outnumbered and in terrible danger of being killed by the vastly superior opposition. However, Douma’s energy sensory detected Sozen, the Captain Commander, and a small army of the top-ranking Shinigami as they rapidly approached. Things were about to escalate very quickly, and he decided to sit from his position and just watch. Asmokon would be arriving shortly as well, and because of his ties to Hotaru, it would only make sense for him to aid Sozen. The forces were getting more balanced and more dangerous. He wasn’t ready to decide on his next course of action yet.

Douma could barely pick up on Saeki’s words, but when she spoke to Anarchy, he felt a more powerful reaction to her words than her knowledge of his name would have. She must have spoken into his mind as she did to Douma, reminding him that he was exposed before her. Even now, while Saeki could no longer look into Douma’s history due to the barriers he set up to defend himself, she had seen enough in the past. She knew how to control him. And she knew what he wanted and desired now, even though she couldn’t see the recent experiences that drove that change. No matter what he did, Saeki could always penetrate chinks in his armor.

The exchange between Sozen and Saeki exposed the Kuchiki Head’s greatest weakness: his devotion to his family. Saeki was one of his own. She was his sister. That piece of her identity prevented him from eliminating the very threat he had tried to contain. He cared about he too much, and because of that, he had let her turn into one of the most powerful individuals in all three worlds. She had an army behind her, and she was still recruiting more generals to face off against Soul Society’s finest. Saeki’s forces would be able to grow even more if she escaped this current situation, and the odds were in her favor. Douma – Kagami had gotten to know the Captain Commander well during his time as Vice Captain, and the old man had no defense against her abilities. He was as weak as any of them.

The atmosphere was tense but quiet. It was the calm before the storm. Before the bloodshed and the warfare. And it was in that moment that Saeki turned the man in the white mask. “ You know, Douma, now would be the time to choose sides. Mine or theirs?" Behind the mask, he smiled, and the only person who would know of his reaction other than himself was Saeki. I’m hoping one of you has my zanpakuto. It made sense that the breakout team would carry the confiscated weapons, and Douma walked over to retrieve his blade from Saeki’s forces.

He never said a word. He was the Angel of Silence. He didn’t need to speak. His decision was clear. It was Saeki. She had too much influence over him. She had secrets he deeply desired. She was the King. He was a pawn. When we get out of here, tell me where Manami is. That’s all I need. Then my part will be done. Douma wasn’t interested in staying by Saeki, but for this one battle, he’d fight for her as long as he was properly compensated. Just for one battle.