Raian Getsueikirite (Chapter)

The Training Finished...
"Gamma! Do you feel that?!" the sudden, urgent voice of Taira Geshunin rang out.

Gamma tuned his senses towards the source Taira was shouting about. Indeed, there it was. A massive spiritual pressure was emitting from the Soul Society far below them. It was monstrous, even by Gamma's estimation.

"What is going on down there?!" he hissed, irritation apparent in his voice.

Seireitou, Echo, and Hikaru immediately became alert, having seen the distress in both members of the Royal Guard.

"What is it?" Seireitou asked.

"I don't know." Gamma replied, "But we can't wait around to find out. The Royal Guard has to return to Soul Society at all costs."

"But what about the training here?!" Hikaru suddenly erupted. "If we don't get strong, Akujin will—"

He was cut off by a new spiritual pressure, this one from the Royal Palace itself. Specifically, the Hōōden. All five Shinigami whipped around to witness Raian stepping out from behind the curtain, his shihakushō ripped and tattered from his strenuous training.

"Is that... his Bankai?" Seireitou whispered, almost to himself, questioning the meaning behind Raian's tremendous power.

"It is." Gamma replied for him. "I wonder. Did he succeed?"

"We have no time to find out!" Taira shouted. "The Guard has to move out now!"

Seireitou stepped forward from the group, gripping his still-sheathed sword as he advanced, until he was standing only a few feet away from Raian. Both rivals stared one another down, not a word passing between either of them, as the wind gently blew between them. Gamma and the others watched very cautiously as the rivals met.

"Alright Taira, let's go get the others." Gamma finally said. "We'll leave the rest to these guys."