Under the exasperation of half the group, and pseudo-excitement of the other half, the team sprinted out of the jail towards the execution platform. They had only arrived halfway when they were blocked by two figures. One of them was a giant, easily towering over even Kenpachi. Pure strength appeared to pulse from his mountain of a body, and his full plate helmet added to the sense of oppression. The other, while more normal in stature, compensated in aura with the only set of dreadlocks and visors in the entire Soul Society. They hung loosely around his dark forehead and similarly prevented the group from seeing his eyes.
"Stop! Captain Zaraki! Lieutenant Captain Renji! What are doing with the traitor and illegal Ryoka?"
Before Renji could respond, a giant laugh escaped Captain Zaraki. "I didn't know I would get rewarded so soon hahaha! I should have done this sooner." Ignoring the roar from the 7th division Captain Komamura, Zaraki signaled the group onwards to the execution hill.
"Captain Zaraki! Are you insane? What are you doing?"
"Hahaha! Less words, more fighting!" Pouncing towards the two captains, bloodlust practically bleeding off of him, Zaraki eagerly started the battle.
"You think you can take the two of us on at once?! Tosen!"
"Yeah, Komamura - it's time to put this rabid animal in his place."
"Haha - not just you two! I wish all the captains could be here for me to fight!"
Clashes of spiritual reiatsu erupted and forced the group to take a detour to avoid the fighting of the 3 captains. After continuing for a short while, a sudden surge of pressure erupted from the hill in the foreground, coloring the faces of the group in panic.
"Ichigo! The Soryoku has been activated!" Yoruichi shouted.
"I know!" Looking at Lei, Ichigo continued, "Senior Lei, I need to go faster. Can you help the others get to the hill safely?"
"Yes. Go save Rukia, Ichigo." Almost immediately, the man shunpo'ed out of view.
Chad stumbled.
Uryu tripped.
Orihime faceplanted.
Yoruichi and Renji gave a brief glance to the fallen Ryoka before giving an acknowledging nod to Lei and also speeding ahead. Stunned, the trio of high schoolers watched them disappear. After a short delay, they continued running, but Lei noticed that all of them had their hands clenched tightly, their knuckles turning white. Uryu voiced his frustrations soon after, bitterness seeping into his tone.
"Lei-sensei. Are we even going to be useful in the coming fight?"
Opening his mouth halfway, Lei paused before deciding to stay silent. Unfortunately, sometimes no response is even more damning, and a depressing air descended upon the group. Uryu gave a self-pitying laugh while the skin tone of Chad's fists almost turned a different color. Orihime's hair fell over her eyes, and a brief, frustrated sob sounded in the air. Ganju only sighed, already aware of the massive gap between Captain class and those below. The group ran in silence the rest of the way.
Just as they reached the bottom of the hill, a wall of floating pink swords surged upward from the cliff above.
"Shoot! I was hoping to arrive with more time!" Lei paused, the gloom behind him becomingly noticeably heavier. Heart a little heavy, he continued with a hint of guilt, "Hey all, I believe we're close enough. I need to go ahead to prepare some things... and when you're coming up the hill, make sure to stay at a safe distance."
Leaping immediately upwards, mentally facepalming at his insensitivity, he deliberately didn't pause to check their reaction. As he got closer to the barrier of swords, he shook his distracting thoughts away and prepared to break through.
"Choose Your Fighter - Super Smash: MewTwo! Shadow Ball!"
-----
* Ichigo PoV *
Muscles burning from the strain, bones screaming against the weight of his own reiatsu, Ichigo clashed against Byakuya. Drawing the distance close, their katanas rang against one another until at one moment, they remained locked in contact, each opponent struggling to overpower the other.
How is this guy catching up to me?
"Haha - you're pretty good Byakuya. I can tell you're getting faster." Something was creeping inside him, and he needed to hide his nerves in a taunt.
"No... you're wrong. I'm not getting faster. YOU are getting slower."
"What?"
* SHLUNK *
Eyes widening in pain, Ichigo turned to stare at the sakura blade suddenly growing out of his foot. He realized his mistake almost immediately. But by the time he redirected his focus back to Byakuya, it was too late.
In a sinking moment of adrenaline, time slowed to a crawl, and he could only watch as Byakuya's finger slowly, slowlllly, verrrrry slowllllllllly rose. Until it stopped, pointing right at his chest. Something was growing inside him, and his heart was beating wildly.
"Hado 4 - Byakurai."
Two things happened almost simultaneously. The first thing is that reiatsu gathered at Byakuya's finger, glowing a pale blue, the light casting a chill onto Ichigo. The second thing is that a massive explosion shook the sides of the sword dome, and a ray of purple light flashed between the two combatants. Lightning collided with the violet wall, scattering sparks across the surface, the resulting explosion pushing the sixth division captain away.
"Great. I'm not too late. I should still have some time after this." A low voice broke through the smoke, one that Ichigo recognized as Lei. He was about to give a word of gratitude to his helper, but then he saw the lieutenant captain step to combat Byakuya.
He's taking my fight!
Any relief Ichigo felt at the close save evaporated, replaced with something bursting inside him. Something feral.
"Stop! I don't need help! I can still do this. I CAN STILL DO THISSSSSS!!!!!"
Lei paused, gauging the substitute shinigami warily.
Why is he looking at me like that?
How dare he look at me like that?
IS HE MY ENEMY TOO!?
"Ichigo. Relax. Your friends are waiting for you."
My... friends?
The words dumped an ice bath on him. Lei was right, he wasn't here for some vainglorious pursuit. He was here to save Rukia and make sure everyone, including himself, returned home safely. Inwardly struggling, he didn't have time to make a response before Byakuya interrupted.
"I see what's happening. While it's a good idea to let the boy recover, it won't work. You're arrogant to think that you can stall me. I'm much stronger than the late Captain Aizen."
Ichigo saw Lei give him a careful once over before nonchalantly responding, "First of all, I didn't kill Aizen. He's not even dead. And second of all," the bulky Asian paused and spread his arms in a grand, condescending gesture "To beat you, I don't need Ichigo's help. You're not in my league."
"How arro-"
No one present had any time to react. Ichigo didn't even see him move. One moment Lei was next to him, the next he was standing in front of Byakuya, palm upraised and holding a levitating black cube.
"Hado 90 - Kuroshitsugi."
Black energy exploded outward, snapping into place around Byakuya, a rigid rectangular prism that pulsed with malevolent force. A deep hum cut through the air, betraying the violent surge of gravity inside the dreaded Iron Coffin. As the kido dissolved into the air, Ichigo stared in shock as the captain's broken form tumbled forward, the dramatic effect emphasized by the cold words of his assailant.
"Sorry, I'm in a rush."