Ch104- The War Begins!
The world shifted around Kai as he stepped out of the portal. Before him, a tableau of intense emotions and anticipation played out: on one side, Aizen, Gin, Tousen, Baraggan Louisenbairn stood flanked by his Fraccions, their faces a mix of arrogance and expectancy. Across from them were the proud captains and vice-captains of the Gotei 13, standing in formation. Shunsui Kyoraku, Unohana Retsu, Soi Fon, Byakuya Kuchiki, Komamura Sajin, Zaraki Kenpachi, Kurotsuchi Mayuri, Hitsugaya Toshiro, Ukitake Jushiro, and their respective lieutenants, all ready for battle.
Yamamoto Genryusai's usually stern face looked even more foreboding, his sharp gaze fixed on Kai as he made his lazy exit from the portal. "What is the meaning of this?" the elder captain demanded, his voice as forceful as ever.
Without missing a beat, Kai appeared beside Yamamoto using shunpo, the movement seeming effortless. "Oh, you know. Aizen tried to lock down Hueco Mundo, so I thought it'd be less of a hassle to use his exit," he replied with a nonchalant tone, scratching his head with a yawn.
Aizen's sly smile widened. "You noticed my intentions?" He tilted his head slightly, the amusement evident in his voice.
Kai grinned back, matching his smirk. "I had a similar idea once. I thought I could trap you in there forever, but as it turns out, Hueco Mundo doesn’t really like being locked up. It's stubborn, just like its residents."
This seemed to catch Aizen off guard, his eyes narrowing slightly. "How fascinating," he remarked, trying to maintain his usual calm demeanor. His voice held a tinge of genuine curiosity as he continued, "I reached the same conclusion after my own research. It appears our paths have been running in parallel."
Kai shrugged, clearly uninterested in the academic discussion. "Well, Hueco Mundo, Soul Society, Earth—it's all connected. Breaking that connection? Not really an option."
Kyoraku strolled up to Kai, the flutter of his flowery haori billowing softly with the movement. The subtle scent of sake lingered in the air around him. With a chuckle, he tilted his straw hat upward, revealing his mischievous eyes. "I sense we are alike," he murmured, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
Kai chuckled in return, a glint of recognition flashing in his eyes. "You're the one with the flamboyant haori, right? Shunsui Kyoraku." He paused, reminiscing briefly on the memories he had absorbed. "I must admit, Captain Kyoraku, you do know how to keep things from being too troublesome."
Kyoraku laughed heartily. "Well, life's too short to be bogged down by every little thing, don't you think?"
Before Kai could answer, Soi Fon, captain of the 2nd division, stepped forward, her brows furrowed in suspicion. "Why does Aizen have so few with him? Is this some sort of trick?"
Aizen responded, a gentle smile lighting his face. "Well, you see, Captain Soi Fon, Mr. Kurogami here proved more...efficient than I had anticipated. Aside from one, all my other Espadas either met their end or decided to change loyalties." He made the statement with a lightness that suggested their numbers were inconsequential to the outcome of the impending clash.
Soi Fon's eyes narrowed, flicking back to Kai, her sharp mind trying to deduce the extent of his abilities.
Yamamoto, having been silent until now, was observing the interactions carefully. His eyes, which held the weight of centuries, were now intensely focused on Kai, who seemed deep in conversation with Kyoraku. His brow furrowed, the revelation about the Espadas puzzling him. He'd known about Kai's abilities, of course, but the extent to which he'd impacted Aizen's forces was unexpected.
Kyoraku, sensing the weight of Yamamoto's gaze, tilted his head slightly towards Kai. "You've been busy, haven't you?"
Kai shrugged, his eyes betraying a hint of amusement. "Don't get me started. I had to run around all day long."
Zaraki Kenpachi, having been impatiently fidgeting, decided to interject. "All this talk and no action?" he boomed, the bells in his hair jingling with excitement. "I say we get on with the fun!"
"Well, I'll leave it to you." Kai's voice had a touch of mirth as he began to float away from the center of attention, his movements languid as if he were moving through water. The captains and vice-captains exchanged glances, trying to make sense of this mysterious newcomer who seemed to be on their side but carried an air of uncertainty around him.
However, after a few moments, Kai halted in mid-air, his posture changing slightly, signaling he was about to address the crowd. All eyes turned back to him, some with curiosity, others with apprehension.
"Why don't I make things interesting?" He drawled, his voice echoing slightly. The hint of a smirk on his face made the atmosphere tense. "You've all seen Aizen's Shikai, right? So, theoretically, he could trap you all in an illusion."
Aizen's eyes darted to him, trying to gauge his intentions. The captains shifted uneasily, uncomfortable at the reminder of Aizen's dangerous ability. But what happened next took everyone by surprise. With a casual flick of his finger, Kai released a burst of his reiatsu, an overwhelming force that washed over everyone present. It was powerful but not aggressive, akin to a gentle but unyielding wave.
Aizen's eyes widened slightly, a rare occurrence for someone who almost always had the upper hand. He felt something crucial being severed—a connection he relied on, a foundation of his power. The smirk he'd held onto for so long wavered. "What have you done?" His voice, usually dripping with confidence, held a trace of uncertainty.
Without turning around, Kai continued in a languid voice, "Now he can't ensnare you in his illusions. But here's a little tip: try not to look at his Shikai, or you'll find yourselves back under his spell."
As if to punctuate his statement, Kai floated lazily towards one of the nearby buildings, settling atop its roof with the grace of a cat. He lounged there, reclining comfortably as if he were on vacation and not in the midst of an impending battle.
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