The moment his Zanpakuto activated as I sent out a bolt of blue lightning at him, I frowned as his sword shifted into a scythe with a long pole right before a pillar of dust shot up around him.
The lightning shot right through and revealed that he was no longer in that spot, taking a deep breath as I stretched out my spiritual sensing while squinting slightly as the dust began to settle in a swirling storm around me.
'Oh, so it's a sword that controls dust to hide his presence? Well, this is going to be lovely', I thought with a frown as I quickly created a cube of spiritual energy around me, the Reishukaku humming in my grasp as I slowly turned in a circle.
A tense silence hung in the air as I couldn't find hide nor hair of the Shinigami I was facing and my frown deepened as I slowly created six Kan'onballs around me, each glowing brightly as I took a deep breath before dropping my cube barrier.
The moment I did, my eyes widened as I leapt into the air and barely missed the scythe aimed at my legs, a Kan'onball shooting at what swung at me while another flew upwards and transformed into a sheet of energy that I landed upon.
"Hado #35:Kaminari Rasen(Thunder Spiral)!", Flicking my hand towards the other four orbs floating still on the ground, each of them glowed before exploding with a burst of powerful electricity.
Watching as a ring of electricity rippled out from the centre of the explosion, I focused my eyes as the electricity pushed the dust back, my Reiryoku already flowing to my hands before I sighed as the Shinigami was still nowhere to be found.
'Okay, so either he's still hidden in the dust storm around…or he actually took the attack and is still hidden at the impact point', I thought with a frown as I landed on one of the rooftops, watching as the dust storm picked up and grew even larger to envelop the rooftops as well.
I could just run and go away, but the giant dust storm would just attract the attention of other Shinigami if it hasn't already and all the presence hiding Kido I now knew required me to stand still, which would mean becoming a target no matter if I'm hidden or not.
'Hah, I got so used to fighting upfront that I forgot the average Shinigami's Zanpakuto is focused more on acting as support for their main fighters', Dropping down and landing in the middle of the pathway, I took a deep breath as I created another cube barrier around myself.
However, I didn't look for any sign of the Shinigami this time as I placed a hand on the ground, taking a deep breath as I felt the Reimyaku of the Seireitei calling out to me.
"Heart of the south, eye of the north, finger of the west, foot of the east, arrive with the wind and depart with the rain", I finished my chant while drawing a wide circle in front of me, making a symbol at each of the four cardinal directions before slamming my palm down onto the centre.
"Bakudo #58: Kakushitsuijaku (Footprint-Attentive Pursuing Sparrows)!", I chanted as I sent out a pulse of Reiatsu into the circle, watching as it began to rapidly shift through numbers and symbols until I smirked when I saw it settling on a specific series of numbers.
The numbers only shifted for a brief moment to new ones before jumping back to the old ones, but I knew instinctively where they were as I looked directly in the direction where the Shinigami was.
A moment later, the dust storm picked up and became a rapidly swirling storm that nearly blinded me if not for the cube barrier around me, but it was too late as I kept focus on the numbers shifting rapidly even as the symbols stayed the same.
'Third Division, Fifteenth Corridor Rooftops 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6. His position itself is rapidly shifting, but since it's only the second number shifting now and again, he's most definitely to the north of me while jumping from east to west in rapid succession', It was a bit hard for to figure out exactly how to track him while preparing my next spell, but I managed as I took a deep breath and poured Reiatsu into the Reishukaku.
"Hado #33: Sokatsui!", The next moment, I raised my hand in his direction before unleashing a torrent of blue flames that burned everything in their path, not keeping the spell up for longer than a few seconds as I looked down at the Bakudo #58 and saw his position shifting rapidly.
Aiming a blast at where he was going to land, a Kan'onball curved through the air along with a Sho and hit him clean in the body, a wheeze escaping the Shinigami's lips as the dust settled when he rolled across the ground with a groan.
"Hado #4: Byakurai!", However, I was not done as a piercing lightning bolt shot out of the Reishukaku towards him, forcing the Shinigami to flip over right as I stomped down on the ground and unleashed a burst of Reiatsu through it.
"Kan'onball: Mole Version!", I spoke with a grin as the ground erupted, shooting out a Kan'onball that the Shinigami quickly sliced through only for a Sho to fly through the dust and smash into his chest again.
However, my eyes widened as a copy of the Shinigami shot out of the first one's side, watching as he raced towards me while looking at the first only to see it dissipate into dust the moment he fell onto the ground.
'Fuck! So that's it, eh? On top of being able to hide in the dust, you can also create a copy of yourself to take the damage while you get away for free', I thought as the Shinigami appeared in front of me and swung his scythe at my legs, forcing me back even as I fired off a Sho at his face.
This time, he didn't even hide it as his head got snapped back by the Sho even as another copy slipped out of his leg, the new copy locking his legs with mine right as he swung his scythe at my waist.
With a thought, though, the bubble of the Reishukaku appeared around my body and not only repelled his swing, but also forced him to let go of my legs lest he wanted them to be crushed in between my own.
"Bakudo #4: Hainawa!", Raising a hand towards him, sparks of yellow light erupted from my index finger and pinned his arms to his body, the Shinigami quickly spinning right as I fired another Shoat his head.
Catching his Zanpakuto with his mouth right as both of us landed, I was surprised as he spun and threw it at me, quickly ducking only to raise an arm as he lunged forward and kicked at my head.
"Bakudo #6: Rokuren( Six Chains)!", As I leaned back, the ground under us glowed before six golden chains of light shot out and wrapped around his body.
He gave a grunt of surprise as the Hainawa around his limbs vanished the moment he was pulled against the ground and I went to fire a Sho only for another copy to shoot out from his head and catch his scythe with a smirk.
My eyes widened as I slowly jumped back, but it was too slow and I hissed as he delivered a deep gash across my chest with the back of his scythe, the Reishukaku glowing and forming another barrier around me as he went for another attack.
Tearing off the top half of the Shinigami uniform, I pressed it against my chest to stem the bleeding while letting the Hollow Reiryoku of the necklace flow through my body and glared at the Shinigami.
"Not bad. You have a mastery of the lower level Kido spells that one rarely can find from a Ryoka", The Shinigami spoke, but I stayed silent as I let the wound slowly close up while thinking of the next stage of attack.
'Okay, so he doesn't need the scythe to make a clone, but it appears he's only able to make one. I also think that his scythe can't be replicated or else he would have made another one', I thought with a frown as I stood up, smirking at his narrowed eyes when my wound had been reduced to just a thin scarred line.
"Hmm, regenerative abilities…or perhaps Kaido?", I heard him mutter and readied myself as I dropped the barrier once more, the Reishukaku glowing as I took a deep breath while he vanished into the dust storm once again.
"Crimson dusk, shroud the battlefield! Let the hunted vanish, let the hunters be blinded! Ignite, disperse and conceal! Bakudo #21: Sekienton!", With a pulse of Reiatsu rippling through the air, a thick layer of smoke mixed it with the dust around me and hid me from view.
However, I didn't expect that to be enough and stomped on the ground once more, unleashing a burst of Reiatsu that pushed out another blast of red smoke that billowed outwards until the entire area was nothing but smoke and dust.
"Bakudo #43: Fuin Shikigami(Sealing Shikigami)!", Numerous orbs of golden light appeared around me before each formed into a golden tag with symbols on them and I grinned as the Reishukaku glowed before they all shot out to my right.
I could hear the sound of him slashing through most of them, but I grinned as I felt a mental link connecting with the ones that did land, a burst of Reiatsu shooting out from my feet and sending my flying towards his location.
Kan'onballs gathered around my body as I appeared in front of the Shinigami right as he looked up, his eyes widening as I unleashed a Sho that he blocked with his scythe right as I gathered the Kan'onballs around him.
"Carriage of thunder, bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six. Bakudo #61: Rikujokoro!", Six of the Kan'onballs warped before slamming into his midsection in the form of light sheets and his scythe stopped millimeters from impaling my head as I smirked.
"Heavy chains of judgement, woven from the iron of the heavens. Bind the limbs, crush the will and deny all escape. Bakudo #63: Sajo Sabaku(Etheral Binding Chain)!", I chanted while twisting my hand and the other eight orbs glowed before fusing into one thick chain.
The Shinigami looked shocked as I wrapped the chain around his body while keeping the Rikujokoro active and I took a deep breath before the migraine set in as I began to chant.
"The fate of the three sparrows, the fate of the four dragons, enclosed on five sides, unable to return six ri", The ground under me lit up as I began to draw from the Reimyaku of the Seireitei, slowly drawing the kanji for 'Explode' in the air in front of me.
"A thousand ashes and a thousand wisdoms, the plan of the white clouds", I could see the Shinigami straining to even move a muscle as his eyes were wide and his breathing ragged, but I knew it would not be enough as I tasted the blood dripping down my nose.
"Vengeance hungers, close to the moon yet not stepping on the shadow of scarlet. Winds gather, yet do not touch the cane of elm", My Reiatsu was surging into the sigil in front of me as I held up the Reishukaku to it, giving the Shinigami one final smirk before I finished my spell.
"Flower Crane Launch: Golden Kan'onball", My voice echoed in the pathways as a monstrous explosion rippled out from the sigil and obscured the area in front of me in nothing but stormy winds and blazing flames.
Without wasting a single moment as I let the spell carry on, I quickly turned and ran towards my cane, picking it up and making my way as far away from this location as possible.
'Nope! Not staying here a second longer!', I thought hurriedly as I raced towards the sewer man-gate before shooting it open and sliding into it, grunting as I hit the wall before rolling the moment I fell onto the mucky ground below.
Gathering a Kan'onball in my grasp, I flicked it down the tunnel before rushing in the opposite direction, the sound of the explosion above slowly fading away before I frowned as I heard dozens of feet shuffling about.
Time for this guy to make his escape.
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"Hah…that was a close one", I muttered as I sat down in the sewers, feeling exhausted after the tough fight I just had.
I could have ended it quicker, but I was more trying to not use any powerful spells that could result in the death of a Shinigami as while the captains and lieutenants are durable enough to survive my stronger spells, the average Shinigami is not.
"The strongest spells I have are the Flower Crane Golden Kan'onball and the Hado #70: Genshikodan(Atomic Light Bullet) and those are most definitely not enough to take out a captain." I muttered with a sigh as I relaxed against the wall while looking up at the ceiling.
The Golden Kan'onball was not at the pinnacle I envisioned it to be as I am still figuring out to configure the Shiba Clan's Flower Crane Launch chant to boost it, but I'd say it's been looking good so far especially with the results from earlier.
Although, I have to admit that the power it unleashed was a bit higher than what I was expecting it to be and I suppose it was only because I was also using both Bakudo #61 and# 63 in conjunction with it that caused the migraine.
'Then again, migraines don't last long when you have Hollow Reiryoku to heal yourself', I thought with a smirk as I lifted the necklace, watching as it was only half full now, which just made me sigh as I realized that my plan to use the Hogyoku now was completely gone.
That just leaves the plan to get it away and that one I was going to make sure to succeed in, even if I have to force every bit of my own spiritual energy out to do so.
"Down here!", Knocked out from my thinking, I quickly looked down the left pathway as I heard footsteps coming from it, my cane aimed as I watched three shadowy figures drawing near before letting out a relieved sigh as Ganju and Ichigo looked surprised to see me.
"Holy crap! What the hell happened to you?!", Ganju asked with wide eyes and I looked down at the faded scars as well as the torn clothes I had from my fight before shaking my head as I stood up with a groan.
"Eh, just got done fighting the Kido Corps and an entire Division except for the captain and lieutenant. What about you?"
"We've just got done kidnapping this one", Ichigo said with a shrug as he held up Hanataro by his collar, who looked a bit fearful as I walked closer and looked at him with a hum.
"Hmm, you don't look like one for combat and I can see the medical supplies in your pouch. You a medic?"
"Y-Yeah", He answered with a nod and I nodded back before standing back up straight as Ichigo set him down.
"That's cool. I'm guessing Shinigami have some kind of Kido to help them heal others?"
"K-Kind of."
"Cool. Think you can teach me?", I asked and smirked at his surprise as well as that of the other two before Ganju snorted.
"Forget it, showman. Human souls can't learn the spells of a Shinig-!"
"Hado #4: Byakurai", Having already done this song and dance with Kisuke, I simply raised my finger and fired a bright blue lightning bolt down the sewer, the three staring in shock while I snuffed it out before it could hit anything.
'That was a lot easier to do than before. Eh, I must have gained a bit more control over my Reiatsu than before.'
"Is that enough proof or should I use another?", I asked with a smirk towards Ganju, who simply blinked bewildered before I turned as a shocked Hanataro spoke up.
"H-How…how did you do that?"
"Eh, I'm just built different. So, about that offer on teaching me some healing Kido?", I asked and he blinked before giving a slow nod.
"O-Only if you would have me as a teacher."
"Then, I'll be in your care."
"Later. For now, we have to run before those other guys catch us", Ichigo spoke up with a frown and I nodded with a hum before turning to Ganju as he spoke up.
"Why do you still have that? It's only useless since we're already inside", He asked while pointing at the Reishukaku and I snorted as I walked over and picked it up along with my cane.
"It's one of the few things that's been keeping me alive since we got here. There's no way I'm throwing it away", I answered and he shrugged before I looked to Ichigo as he spoke up.
"What Division did you fight against?"
"3. Did you guys fight against them as well?"
"Nah, we fought against some guys from 11 and then there were a lot more guys from them so we ran away."
"Nice, tactical retreat to save your strength. I wish I did the same, but I went to the Kido Corps to see if they had any reason as to why they were executing Rukia other than 'It's the lawful thing to do'. Turns out that there have been may Shinigami that have given their powers to others for a brief time period, but none of them were sentenced to execution."
"What?", Ichigo asked with a frown and I sighed as I nodded while crossing my arms.
"Yeah, that's suspicious to say the least. That is when I got attacked by three seated officers from Division 3."
"And you're still alive? Were they taking it easy on you?", Ganju asked with a raised eyebrow and I rolled my eyes as Ichigo smirked and Hanataro giggled.
"No, they went for the kill while I tried to subdue them. Anyway, after that, I've been running through the sewers because I have figured out where Rukia was being held."
"The Senzaikyu? Yeah, we're heading there too."
"Well, you're heading in the wrong direction. It's in the direction you just came from", I answered and both of them frowned before looking at Hanataro who quickly shook his head.
"N-No! That Senzaikyu is a fake that we use to lure people to as it's connected to the First Division's Headquarters. The real Senzaikyu is hidden behind the 6th Division and is linked to Sokyoku Hill."
"…So, you're telling that we could have been gone and away with Rukia right about now?", I asked slowly, watching as Hanataro nodded before nodding and taking a deep breath as I turned around and began walking.
"Uh, you good there, Kanonji?", Ichigo asked and my smile made them flinch slightly as I nodded before turning back.
"I'm fine~ Let's just go and rescue Rukia…and blow up the entire hill while we're at it."
A/N: And the chapter ends with the Don meeting up with Ichigo, Hanataro and Ganju as they are now making their way back to the Sokyoku Hill to save Rukia once again.
Also, the Don is struggling in the fight because he's not trying to kill anyone, but from now on, the Don is going to try his best to take out anyone in his path for the Hogyoku.
Another also, I don't want him to just use the Kido Spells so I'm going to have him slowly use less and less of them while using his Kan'onballs more as he improves his spellcasting.
That and I have a little something planned for him to do during the period between the Arrancar Arc and the Fullbringer Arc. The hint: Magic and Dragons.
Next chapter: The Don and the Berry vs the Serpent and the Man that Doubles Gravity.
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As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next chapter,
Ba-Bye~!