Forget The Rails: Arc 4: Chapter 4 Part 3

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“Gotta say, that was a little anti-climactic…” Ichimaru's voice chimed through the increasingly tense atmosphere, a lazy grin plastered on his face as if he were watching a dull play. His tone suggested he was blissfully unaware of the overwhelming pressure that had suddenly multiplied tenfold, the very sand beneath their feet beginning to whirl like a disturbed tempest.

Josh Groban felt a twitch in his fingers, an instinctive alertness flaring as Hell’s veil gradually lifted, revealing the transformation of their surroundings. The ground hardened into something that was now unyielding, the sky morphing into a deep shade of ominous red—a stark warning of the chaos to come.

The Soul King had changed once more.

Which on its own had confirmed his theory- Gremmy Thoumeaux had been set for death the very moment they'd entered through Hell's gates.

“I don’t think that was supposed to be difficult,” Urahara Kisuke mused, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he casually adjusted his hat. He cast an exaggerated glance around them, a mock look of concern playing on his features. “Honestly, is this the best Hell has to offer? We beat an heir and all we get is a different sky? I expected at least a celebration! A rounding chorus- I'll even take a parade.” The man mocked unendingly.

He gave him a very, very long look at that.

"What..? Someone has to Aizen while he's gone." The blonde had the nerve to say to him.

“Maybe they got lost on the way,” Ichimaru joked, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Or they're too busy getting their nails done. You know how demons like to pamper themselves.” A beat passed. “But, at least all the monsters are gone,” Ichimaru added with a deadpan expression as if he were commenting on a mundane occurrence rather than the stakes at hand.

The mention of monsters caused Josh to grit his teeth, not fully grasping the implications until now. The thought hit him like a freight train. Had Gremmy created those creatures? Had the entirety of what they'd seen at the start been the cause of that fool? Barring Ichibe's appearance, it explained the hesitance shown by those caricatures and the speed of their own descent into the fool’s realm. His heart raced as a miniature storm erupted before him, its furious winds swirling with a power that sent shivers down his spine.

Instantly, both Shinigami raised their blades, their senses honed for possible danger looming in the chaotic cloud.

He held his breath, anticipation palpable as the tempest before him began to settle, revealing the result of their efforts. His eye widened in a mix of wonder and dread at what emerged from the vortex- a brain encased in a glassy prison, glimmering ominously in the twilight.

"...Is that a fuckin' brain?" Ichimaru exclaimed, eyebrows raised in mock surprise, stepping closer to poke at the floating glass with his zanpakuto.

"Gremmy's brain." Josh remarked, his focus narrowed as he examined it. He noted the brain's sad lack of energy emanating from it, a mere echo of its former self. “The Soul King drained most of its power already."

"...Guess this is what happens when you don't pay your rent in Hell." Ichimaru sighed. "Remind me to pay mine- I can't afford to lose any more of my mind!"

Urahara chuckled, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Guess that’s one way to make your enemies feel helpful. ‘Good job, team, you captured this lovely piece of décor—now let me take away all the fun!’” He punctuated the remark with a gesture as if trying to frame the brain for a holiday card.

It was the equivalent of a pat on their backs telling them they did a good job while snorting at their efforts.

“How wonderfully petty of him,” Josh muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. “Who would’ve thought the Soul King would have such a sense of humor or… is it just sarcasm?”

Ichimaru smirked, “Well, at least we know he has some humanity left. You know, behind that disheveled throne of power and whatever appetite for destruction he dances with. Maybe we should invite him out for tea."

“Right after we deal with whatever monstrosity comes next,” Urahara replied, the hint of a smile remaining on his face, “I’m not sure if he prefers green or Earl Grey- Eh, what are you doing?” The sudden interruption from the blonde snapped him back to reality, disbelief flickering in his eyes.

He blinked, momentarily dazed, and noticed with a mix of horror and fascination that his hand was moving of its own accord, reaching toward the dormant brain. A portal flickered into existence before him, its edges shimmering with a vibrancy that made reality seem tenuous.

As he watched, everything on the other side rapidly came into focus. What emerged quickly startled him- a vision of the Shinigami one of his former Espadas had been forced to take. The figure seemed to pulse with energy, its details sharpening into focus, but that didn’t stop him from feeling as though his thoughts were wrapped in fog.

“Groban, put the brain down—” Urahara’s warning struggled to penetrate through the mental fog, but it was ignored as his hand flung said brain through the portal instead. Time seemed to slow as the incased brain shattered into a kaleidoscope of glassy shards, spiraling through the void before stitching themselves like threads onto the head of the comatose Shinigami.

He distinctly noted the fact the blonde's blade was now pointed directly at him while Ichimaru Gin having thought the portal was a way to escape, promptly took off into it, only to crash face-first onto the shifting sands, his body passing through like it was an illusion.

“Ah damn it…” The pale idiot groaned, muffled and disgruntled, his arms flailing in the sand.

As the portal slammed shut, Josh regained control of his faculties, his mind racing to piece together the chaos.

What in the hell just happened? Was this the Soul King’s doing? Or was it Aizen’s manipulation at play?

Kaien Shiba hadn’t awakened since his transformationm why bring him into the fold now?

He swallowed hard as he remembered that Aizen still had technical control over this body which meant if he wanted to, he could have guided Josh’s hand to act as it had. But doing so would’ve unleashed a torrent of reiatsu that would echo across the realms, something that was impossible for the Soul King to ignore. And unless it benefited said king, he would've stopped it at it's infan-

And suddenly, it clicked. It did serve the Soul King's purpose.

“Crap,” Josh muttered under his breath. Panicking, he opened a connection to Huaco Mundo, quickly warning Grantz to pull back their base hollows. But moments later, he received a reply that sent a fresh wave of panic through him: Kaien Shiba had already eaten half of them within a matter of moments of wakening.

Kaien Shiba was technically a Shinigami integrated with Hollow souls, holding Aaroniero's unique power to absorb those very hollows. In simpler terms... he was the bloody answer to the invasion threatening the balance!

...Aizen Sosuke had to know that would happen, so why on earth would he force him to have a hand in it!?

“...Well, the hollow's pissed,” Ichimaru said, brushing sand off his clothes like it was no big deal. “That’s good news for us, right?”

He took in the blonde, took in the sheer speed at which he came to the startling realisation himself. The man's mind worked so very fast- And if it weren't for his utter lack of tact, he would've commended the blonde for it. “From what I remember, all the data on Kaien's body showed that he can absorb hollows… which theoretically means he can shut down their little immortal bullshit,” Urahara continued, a hint of excitement colouring his tone. He cracked a smile, the implications dawning on him. “So, Josh Groban here just handed us a weapon to fight against his own hollows.”

"That's nice of him." Ichimaru snorted. "I don' get how it works but sounds good for us."

Josh shot him a glance. “You seem awfully cheerful for someone who just face-planted into the sand,”

Ichimaru shrugged, his trademark smirk stretching across his face. “Hey, if we're about to get our hands on a Hollow-hunting superpower, I think a little faceplant is a small price to pay."

He let out an annoyed grunt at that. Annoyed mostly because the fools were clearly too focused on the short-term as opposed to actually pulling anything over the Soul King's eyes.

"I don't think he intended it-" Kisuke continued on. "I think Aizen set him up." He paused for a beat, a finger on his chin. "Well, Aizen or the Soul King and I doubt a Quincy would've touched a hollow's reiatsu with a ten-foot pole- King or not." The blonde finished with a slight shrug.

"...What if it's a twelve foot pole?"

"...I don't think it's the size that matters, Gin."

The white-haired one chuckled at that, while the blonde just snorted. "Not what I meant."

"Definitely what I meant!"

These morons were going to be the second death of him.

“Still, if anyone knows how to ruin someone's day, it's Aizen,” Ichimaru responded, tilting his head in mock thought. “Next thing you know, you're awaiting a trial for a murder that didn't technically happen.”

Urahara shook his head, a bemused expression on his face. “Let’s just hope one of Hell's trials isn't an actual trial. Else history might finally get the chance to repay a few favors.”

“Right, like bringing cake to a funeral,” Ichimaru quipped, grinning widely. “Nothing says we care like a nice slice of defeat!”

"We're in Hell, you godforsaken fools." His voice dripped with disdain as he sighed heavily, turning a piercing gaze toward the blonde. "You must realise that Kaien Shiba just set the Balance back to it's norm," He narrowed his eye further, a storm brewing within them. "Which means the Soul King has turned his unwavering attention back to us."

The blonde fidgeted, a flicker of unease crossing his features. "I never supported your harebrained scheme to begin with. So yes, I do feel some relief knowing your little invasion was a dismal failure."

Ichimaru, with an infuriatingly relaxed demeanour, shrugged nonchalantly. "I dunno why you're so angry at us- We're not the ones that gave the vegetable a brain." At the look that grew on his own face, the pale shinigami raised both hands up in mock surrender. "It's not that big a deal! It's not like we're gonna lose over it!"

As he spoke, the atmosphere shifted. His senses pricked as a surge of powerful signatures emerged around them- far stronger than the previous foes that had dared approach.

"Like if all the heirs are that easy to beat, we're golden!" Ichimaru continued, throwing up a thumbs-up, completely oblivious to the danger that loomed.

At the horizon’s edge, his keen sight caught sight of a large, formidable circular structure materializing, ominous against the muted backdrop.

"...Do you just ignore everything I say?" the blonde questioned with a sigh, evidently ignorant or uncaring of the sudden change in everything around them.

"Ever since you hopped on the Aizen bandwagon? Absolutely," he replied dryly, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

"I see." The blonde let out a frustrated huff.

"Sometimes it takes extra effort!"

"Noted," the blonde replied curtly, crossing his arms.

...Ulquiorra. He silently focused, his thoughts reaching out.

Yes? The bat's voice answered immediately, the connection as sharp as ever.

Kill them. He commanded, a hint of satisfaction tinging his thoughts.

With a sense of something akin to satisfaction, he watched as two monstrous surges of energy began to swell menacingly above the shinigami, their expressions shifting to shock.

"Oi! I thought we were on the same side!" Ichimuar exclaimed, panic creeping into his voice as he made to try and attack the energy above his head with a sword.

Yet Urahara Kisuke, to his ever-growing annoyance, merely gazed skyward at the energy forming above him, dimly noted the new brand of Hell denizens that had spawned around them, then turned his attention back to his companion, crossing his arms with a knowing grin that infuriated him further. "Honestly, Ichimaru. How do you keep forgetting the game we’re playing here," he sighed dramatically. The blonde then promptly stared him in the eye, a shit-eating grin on his face.

Words failed to encapsulate the storm of emotions that cascaded through him as both energy sources launched into a cataclysmic attack against every denizen around them-except for the two shinigami he wanted dead.

...I missed. Ulquiorra's voice filtered through again, calm yet tinged with disappointment. Do you want me to try again?

He exhaled slowly, a weary groan escaping him, instructing Ulquiorra otherwise. It was clear the bat had lost track of the consequences of his duel with Aizen Sosuke- or perhaps had never been fully briefed at all.

"Huh?" Ichimaru Gin muttered, calming down. "Did we do that? I don't remember being able to fire off ceros..."

Urahara patted his fellow shinigami on the shoulder, a gesture that only amplified his own irritation.

Internally, he cursed his own existence, feeling the weight of the world crashing down around him.

With another long sigh, Josh Groban started making his way towards the giant structure in the horizon, the sounds of a strange and garbled cheer echoing towards him from the distance, all the while his two companions slowly followed him.

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Will be released on 27/12/2024 (Hopefully)