Kyouraku almost couldn't keep up and he had no choice but to respond when he met the gaze of the red-haired young woman, "Oh, it's the flashy guy."
"...It's you?"
Naturally, Soifon reacted to him and asked, "You know her?"
Mayuri was also curious about the girl who looked like the infamous twins of the 2nd Division, 'Their older sister? But something is weird.' Though, despite this curiosity, he wanted to know more about how she introduced herself, "You're the one who's going to bust down their gate?" Mayuri found that unbelievable since even someone like Yhwach and Aizen couldn't do it without relying on the Oken.
"What tricks are you going to use?"
The black-haired woman, Benihime, looked at Flanna and the latter also looked at her.
A second later, Benihime grinned and crossed her arms, "Tricks? She's the last person who'd have tricks up her sleeves. She's too stupid to pull off anything complicated."
"Beni!? What are you saying!?" Flanna immediately complained while jumping down from the wooden railings, "That's rude! I can be tricky if I want to be!"
Benihime's smile disappeared and she sharply stared at Flanna, "Oh? Why didn't you help out with the planning? Everytime I hear about you, you're just lazing around. Even Ophis and Lilith are working hard to acquire more skills and friends."
Flanna immediately became nervous and avoided her gaze, "Well, you know... I've been busy in the west! Yes! The boss asked me to do something as insurance! On the planning part, Boss can do all of that by himself well enough. No need for me to interfere."
"Hmmm..." But Benihime just stared at her with suspicion.
"Really! I promi--"
"Enough!", however, Flanna's voice was drowned out by the impatient Mayuri, "Benihime, are you just going to bicker with her instead of presenting a valid method?"
Kyouraku, Nanao, Soifon, and Shinji all muttered to themselves, "Benihime?"
But Benihime just ignored them and replied, "That's a valid method, though? As she has said, she's the battering ram."
With a fed-up expression, Mayuri said back, "You're still not yet done with this joke?"
Flanna, on the other hand, walked towards the center of the room while saying, "It's all just flimsy films. I'm enough to tear that down."
Mayuri turned to her, "Those flimsy films have protected the Royal Palace for countless years. Unless you're capable of destructive power several times stronger than Sosuke Aizen, then stop talking nonsense."
The nervous Flanna has already disappeared and was replaced by a confident one with a fearless smile, "I don't know how strong that guy is, but I can confidently say that I'm fucking strong."
Mayuri turned to Benihime with doubt but he only saw the latter already smiling back, "Ah, that I can guarantee. She wasn't called the Apocalypse Dragon for nothing. She's indeed fucking strong."
"Huh?" Mayuri questioned her sanity but at the same time, the air around them suddenly became almost solid and it took incredible effort just to breathe in and out.
Mayuri and everyone else's hearts started palpitating as a genuine fear for their lives took hold of their minds.
Not knowing what happened, their eyes landed on the most likely culprit. Without them noticing, there's already a pair of red reptilian wings and a red tail sticking out of her back. And on his forehead is a singular long sharp red horn.
"It's been a while since I've properly stretched my limbs," Flanna muttered to herself as the Draconic Aura inside her exploded out, immediately placing the whole Seireitei under her influence.
"T-this feeling..." Nanao clutched her chest which was in pain but she, like the others, was very familiar with this feeling, although this time it was much stronger and closer. It's something they wouldn't be able to forget even if they wanted to, "...It's that strange pressure more than a year ago."
Mayuri instantly retreated to Kyoraku, Nanao, Soifon, and Shinji's side while the first one deployed a defensive Kidou that was embedded in the barracks itself.
"Beni, barriers, please. I can't adjust my power as I wanted."
Without saying anything, Benihime waved her arm and multiple Magic Circles appeared and surrounded Flanna in a cylindrical manner.
"Thanks." Flanna spread her legs and placed her tail on the floor to have a better balance. She then took a deep breath and looked up. A second later, a red glittering light fanned out of her before a red shining pillar pierced through the roofs of the 1st Division Barracks, lighting up the whole Seireitei and a portion of the surrounding Rukongai district with distinct red tints.
The Captains and Nanao could only stare at the giant pillar of light that was ejected from the young lady's mouth and they only had one thought as it transpired, 'If that was directed at the Seireitei, nothing of it would be left behind.'
.
.
.
"Hmmm... Dear me… You just had to make it harder for all of us." Ichibei remarked while stroking his beard, "I really do wonder how you pulled them to your side, especially Nimaiya. I still couldn't imagine any reason why he would help you."
"Really? No idea at all? I overestimated you then." Kisuke replied with a deriding smirk.
Of course, Ichibei and Kisuke knew that the former was lying. Ichibei knew Ouetsu's personality and was the only person who knew how he really sees the world. After all, Ouetsu was the very first member of the Zero Division outside of Ichibei and the one who forged his brush.
"And? What else do you have in store?" Ichibei suddenly changed the topic, "You better show it now if you still want to struggle. Though the outcome would be the same."
Kisuke sighed and closed his eyes, 'As expected... He was forced to make a move.'
[Is it our turn?] Ophis' voice suddenly appeared in his head.
"..." Kisuke didn't immediately reply and when he did, he could only say, 'I'm sorry.'
[There's nothing for you to apologize for. We're just doing our part.]
'I didn't really want to take advantage of you, but I still brought you guys as insurance.'
[We'll take a year's supply of banana cakes as payment.]
Kisuke could only smile wryly, 'Alright. I'll throw in some banana chips, banana juice, and banana candy as a bonus too.'
[We're looking forward to it. I'll also tell Red to get things ready.]
'Thanks.' Kisuke opened his eyes back up and looked at Ichibei who immediately said, "Done talking?"
"Oh. You noticed?"
"There are hardly any things that could hide from me now that I'm here in person."
Kisuke smirked and pointed beside him, "Then they must be two of those things. Good to know."
Ichibei didn't even have time to turn around when a black mass hit him from the side and immediately pulverized his arm and leg as he was sent flying a few kilometers away.
Kisuke turned to the two 'Shinigami' that attacked Ichibei and said, "I'll leave it to you guys. Be careful."
Ophis and Lilith, in response, just gave him a peace sign.
Forcefully opening up the space, Kisuke left Hell.
28th00: The Dragon God Trio has decided to come out to play. Prepare to get traumatized. Also, everyone is outta position because they think they got everyone trapped in Hell, but what that really means is that they can’t stop Kisuke if they’re all stuck down there when he escapes.
Icibei forcefully stopped his uncontrolled flight. He ignored what just attacked him and hurriedly turned to Kisuke who was about to cross the boundary of the dimension. He took his brush and was about to paint over the hole in the dimension. Despite their current distance, his 'ink' is still capable of 'blackening' out what he didn't want to exist.
However, he had to stop when he suddenly felt a hand reaching out to him. With a single glance, Ichibei immediately felt threatened and used the handle of his brush to block the incoming hand.
The hand landed on his brush and in an instant, Ichibei felt like a several tonnes hammer struck him, "!? What?"
The foothold he created with his Reiatsu was instantly broken and he was sent flying once again.
This time, Ichibei took his time to reorient himself while thinking, 'Even if by chance he could go to the Royal Palace, he still won't reach the lynchpin.' After reassuring himself and recalling the current Royal Palace defense, Ichibei finally took a good look at his assailants, "Hooh... Aren't you the twins that couldn't call their Zanpakutos? I certainly didn't think you'd be in on it too."
The bigger question, however, was how they were able to exert that much strength from their tiny bodies. Ichibei certainly didn't receive any report of them having superhuman strength, 'And it wasn't just some superhuman strength. It was enough to instantly kill a normal fighter.'
"Who are you two?" Ichibei asked with a chilled expression.
Ophis slowly floated on Lilith's side and answered with incredible dignity followed by the latter, "Ophis." "Lilith."
Ichibei furrowed his brows and was shocked. This is not the first time he heard their names but this time, it felt like they were introducing themselves, not as Shinigamis.
"I guess the next question is what are you?" If not for the way they saddle their swords, Ophis on the left and Lilith on the right, there's almost no way to distinguish the difference between the two, 'No... There's an obvious difference. This 'Ophis' seems to have a larger pressure.'
Ophis and Lilith looked at each other before answering the obvious simultaneously, "Shinigami."
Ichibei was further intrigued. He has a bit of ability to tell apart truth and lies and he can say with confidence that they are telling the truth, 'Where is this weird feeling coming from?'
He wanted to know more about them because, in his eyes, they are in the same category as Kisuke's current Zanpakuto, totally unknown to him despite seeing them with his own eyes. However, Ichibei didn't have that luxury because he knew the consequences of underestimating Kisuke, 'I'm confident that she'll be able to stop him and I'm also pretty sure that Urahara Kisuke is not after the destruction of balance so he won't easily hurt the lynchpin in the event he could go through her... But what does he want exactly?'
Any uncertainty is an unknown danger and something he has to eliminate. With that in mind, Ichibei clasped his hands together and raised his voice, "Ura Hadou: Ninodou - Tachikoma (Hidden Way of Destruction: Second Path - Standstill)."
Ichibei's hand released a white glow and before Ophis and Lilith could realize what was going on, they found the same light surrounding their body and their thoughts halted.
"I really want to know what sort of being the two of you are, but sadly, I don't have the time." Ichibei muttered loudly but he knew his words couldn't be heard by the girls in front of him, "Lament on your powerlessness." Ichibei then unceremoniously swung his blade towards the 'twins' and covered them entirely in black ink.
Ichibei let out a short breath and admired his work for a second before turning around to follow Kisuke. However, just as he was about to open a path, alarms in his head suddenly started ringing. Ichibei tried to take back his Zanpakuto though it was already too late as he once again, received a hammer-like slap on his back.
"Kuhhh!" Ichibei spun uncontrollably for a bit before regaining his posture. He hurriedly looked back and while Lilith remained unmoving, Ophis was staring at him, still completely capable of combat.
"...How?" Ichibei questioned but Ophis was not inclined to answer him and continued her assault.
It was the same slap with her bare hand so Ichibei used his blade to block it and attempt to cut her. But contrary to his expectations, the moment their attacks met, it created a spark as if Ichibei hit another sword.
The ink-covered Ophis was sent back by the impact though there's no obvious injury from her side. Nevertheless, Ichibei noticed that she had become weaker. And thanks to them being covered with his ink, he also noticed the distinct connection between Ophis and Lilith that wasn't obvious to him before.
"I see... So that's how it is." Ichibei figured out that they were not twins, "No wonder your names have this uncanny feeling. You're the real one and the other is just an anchor for your existence. Really... What a strange being."
Ichibei sighed, "To think I would waste this much time and strength. I apologize for underestimating you." In an instant, a white halo appeared around him, and the tip of his blade or brush became covered in white ink. With a large mocking smile on his face, he continued, "But this ends here. As a sign of my respect, I'll bestow you a more appropriate name. Shin'unchi: Shirafude Ichimonji."
Releasing a massive amount of Reiatsu that disturbed the whole region, taking everyone's attention, Ichibei manipulated the white ink that went flying toward Ophis and Lilith.
Ophis tried to dodge but before the white ink even reached her, words already appeared on her body and Lilith's. Immediately after, Ophis felt her strength further leaving her body.
"So how do you feel? The one once known as Ophis, Earthworm?" Ichibei asked with a condescending tone, "Feel the powerlessness and fragileness of an earthworm and cease disturbing me."
Ichibei lifted his foot and a giant foot made out of pure Reiryoku appeared on top of Ophis and Lilith, "I bestow you death befitting of your name. Die on earth where you belong."
Ophis could only stare at the giant foot descend as she hurriedly made her way to Lilith to protect her.
While hugging her 'sister', Ophis tried conjuring her mass of energy but found it very hard to gather even a tiny bit of it. When that didn't work, Ophis tried swinging her arm towards the incoming foot.
"It's useless." Ichibei grinned while watching them being stepped on by him and crashed down to the ground with a large explosion, "Just be glad that a grave could be made for the two of you."
As Ichibei couldn't feel their presence anymore, he turned towards the others who were still fighting and thought, 'I wasted too much time.'
However, as if he were cursed by something, the moment he had any intention of leaving Hell, he would be stopped.
Ichibei couldn't smile anymore when he saw a young lady covered in ink slowly float up to his level, "You really are a tenacious one. How did you even survive? Hmmm...?" The young lady's aura was way weaker than before and Ichibei was sure that he's currently talking to Ophis right now. However, there are two Zanpakutos on her side, "What? You weren't able to save your twin but you still saved her Zanpakuto? That's actually quite admirable."
"Anyhow, your tenacity is actually annoying me now."
"Annoying?" Ophis asked with a blank expression.
Ichibei was about to nod but felt something out of place.
And before he could realize what was wrong, a giant jet-black hand suddenly appeared in front of him, "!?"
Ichibei tried blocking it but the moment the black hand touched him, his whole body instantly disintegrated, reducing him to dust.
"You are the annoying fly." Ophis slightly lifted her head. And while watching Ichibei regenerate himself from nothing, she added, "I, Ophis, am back."
At the same time, the black and white ink on her body slid off her body, revealing Ophis in her black Gothic Lolita fashion, "You shall taste my unending wrath."
Soon, an aura that calls for the end of the world drowned the entire dimension.
28th00: Their split nature meant he could still affect them, and now Lilith is technically her zanpakutou due to him fucking around and linking them as a single entity, indirectly making it so they’re One Soul again, and fucking furious. Did I get that right?
Goyya: Nope. Not what I have in mind. Those Zanpakuto already have spirits of their own but there’s a reason why they can’t call their names. More specifically, they don’t want to call them.