Chapter 150: Flames of War

Chojiro had known from the very beginning that the five-day timeline Luders had mentioned before his death was nothing more than a joke.

The outbreak of this battle could by no means wait for five full days. Once Kurosaki Ichigo accepted Nel's plea to enter Hueco Mundo and was discovered by Quilge Opie, that would be the exact moment the Quincies launched their invasion.

Yet, he was entirely powerless.

He could hardly run over to the World of the Living on his own accord to stop Kurosaki Ichigo from going to Hueco Mundo, could he? If he did that, those people would surely treat him like a madman and chase him right back.

Moreover, the real problem did not lie there. Up to now, he still hadn't found a reason to prevent everyone from using their Bankai in battle. Although he had handed over that medallion, he couldn't simply blurt out that it was an item capable of stealing Bankai; if he did that, he would truly become unable to use his own Bankai in the future. For now, he could only place his hopes on Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who was currently studying the medallion.

However, a full day had already passed, and Mayuri still hadn't reached any conclusions.

That guy really was unreliable...

Yet, no matter how much one prayed, what was bound to happen would eventually arrive.

"They're coming!"

Countless pillars blazing with a cyan-blue flame ignored the existence of the Seireitei's restraining wall and shot straight into the Soul Society. For some unknown reason, these pillars continued to burn intensely, showing no signs of extinguishing.

To be fair, the reactions of the Shinigami from the Department of Technological Research and the other divisions were not slow at all. Since they were already in a state of heightened alert, everyone sprang into action the very moment the Quincies invaded, swiftly arriving at the locations of the respective pillars.

"Lord Genryusai, the enemy has invaded."

Ochigawa Genzhiro, the third seat of the First Division, reported the enemy's intrusion to Yamamoto Shigekuni. But in truth, even without the report, Yamamoto Shigekuni had known the enemy's invasion coordinates and troop numbers the exact microsecond they breached the barrier—far more accurately and swiftly than the Department of Technological Research.

"...Where is Chojiro?"

"Vice-Captain Sasakibe departed just moments ago to subjugate the enemy forces, and he asked me to relay a message to you."

"What message?"

"'Lord Genryusai may simply remain at ease within the First Division; I shall rout the enemy forces myself.'"

"...Hmph."

Though he had no idea why Chojiro would leave such parting words, the utter confidence in his own strength and the absolute disdain for the enemy contained within that statement left Yamamoto momentarily speechless.

"Stupid brat..."

Despite thousands of years of cultivation, Yamamoto Shigekuni could never have guessed that Chojiro had acted solely to ensure his safety.

"Gah... Ah..."

"Pardon me, but orders from above are to show no mercy."

Tossing aside the cloak draped over his shoulders, Bazz-B, sporting a punk-hairstyle, strode forward toward the ordinary squad members who stood paralyzed and on the verge of losing their will to fight, utterly traumatized after witnessing their Vice-Captain and several seated officers slaughtered in an instant before the enemy even reached the main street.

"Do hurry up and die, Shinigami."

"Ugh..."

Lacking leadership, the shivering Shinigami slowly retreated as the enemy advanced. A disdainful smirk formed at the corners of Bazz-B's lips as he gazed at the trembling, battle-broken Shinigami before him.

"Hm?"

Bazz-B, who had been fully prepared to engage in a massacre, suddenly sensed a formidable spiritual pressure moving at breakneck speed not far away—a velocity so astonishing that even he was taken aback.

"That fellow... Who is it?"

What Bazz-B sensed was none other than Chojiro.

He was currently racing at full tilt toward the location of Yhwach, having no time whatsoever to spare a glance for the casualties scattered along the path as a result of skirmishes with the Quincies.

Yhwach...

He had to resolve this battle before Lord Genryusai sensed that spiritual pressure and arrived on the scene.

"Yo, you look awfully hurried."

"!"

Yet, whether Chojiro was simply plagued by ceaseless bad luck, his recent wishes never seemed to manifest. Thus, precisely when he desperately sought to locate Yhwach, the enemy invariably chose that exact moment to materialize.

"BOOM!"

A massive dark shadow suddenly plummeted from the skies, blocking Chojiro's path.

Dordonii?

Why on earth was this guy here?

"Since you've crossed paths with me, though, I never intended to let you leave alive."

A short-stenciled man resembling a jester, bearing strange leopard-print markings across his face, gripped a pair of bizarre black short blades in his hands, presenting a deeply comical appearance.

"Step aside, Dordonii!"

A fist larger than his entire body smashed down from above. While Chojiro harbored no fear of the giant's physical strength, fighting him while dealing with an unknown enemy of unpredictable capability hovering nearby was a different story altogether.

He didn't even know what kind of ability that companion possessed.

"BOOM!"

Tch, as expected, this fellow was going to be a nuisance...

Dodging Dordonii's assault, Chojiro originally intended to floor the former Espada right then and there, but the Quincy closed in with sticky persistence.

"Thud!"

Planting a kick squarely against Chojiro's torso, the Quincy performed an aerial somersault and landed lightly upon Dordonii's shoulder.

"Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Shaz Domino of the Wandenreich's Sternritter, and my ability is—!"

"BOOM!"

This time, the muffled explosion was not caused by Dordonii's punch, but rather by the powerful burst of spiritual pressure erupting abruptly from the very Shinigami Shaz had supposedly kicked away—a force so overwhelming that it abruptly forced the words right back down Shaz's throat.

"Pardon me, but time is of the essence and I have no leisure to listen to your self-introduction."

Drawing his blade, Chojiro emerged from a cloud of dust and debris. Although Shaz was convinced he had unleashed his absolute maximum power with that previous blow, not a single speck of dirt stained Chojiro's uniform.

"I apologize to Dordonii, but it simply cannot be helped."

"Perish."

"Don't look down on me!"

Having his presence so thoroughly disregarded, Shaz Domino—proud member of the Sternritter—flew into an immediate rage. The throwing daggers in his hand instantly multiplied into a dozen, hurtling directly downward toward Chojiro.

"Do you have any idea what happens when you are pierced by my daggers, Shinigami?"

Perhaps fearing Chojiro might evade the initial projectiles, Shaz unleashed another dozen or more blades, completely sealing off all possible escape routes.

"The power bestowed upon me by His Majesty is—"

"Splat!"

Blade in hand, Chojiro materialized instantly behind Shaz, entirely ignoring the score of flying daggers whistling past him, and with utter composure, flicked the microscopic droplets of blood from his edge.

"I told you, I have no time for your nonsense. You can rest as well, Dordonii."

"Wh—"

Having previously paid little heed to the man before him, Shaz was now confronted by the massive gash across his chest, which told him with brutal clarity that his end had arrived.

"BOOM!"

This time, not only Shaz, but Dordonii collapsed to the ground alongside him. Judging by the faint, rhythmic heaving of the giant's chest, however, Chojiro had seemingly only rendered him unconscious.

As for Shaz Domino, since he was an enemy, Chojiro had no intention of sparing his life.

"Hah—"

"!"

Just as he intended to sheath his sword and resume his search for Yhwach, a human silhouette suddenly streaked across the sky. The spiritual pressure radiating from the figure burned with the intensity of a raging inferno, leaving an indelible impression upon Chojiro's senses. Within the vast expanse of his memory, across the entire Soul Society, there existed only a single individual possessing such distinct spiritual pressure.

"Lord Genryusai!"