Dark War: Escalation

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The streets of the city were unusually crowded. Squads of were patrolling the entire area, wary of a potential counterattack. The Captains who stayed in the expected the  to launch a massive offensive anytime soon, taking advantage of the absence of eight members of the task force sent to.

Nothing was happening, but the Shinigami remained restless.

"How long do you think it'll take them to finish their mission?", asked Hibiki Sasuyōna, the Sixth Division's Lieutenant. "It's been like half an hour or so already."

"Come on, Sasuyōna-kun", replied Ryū Suijōki, the deputy of the Fifth Division. "Do you seriously think they'll get the enemy leader so fast?"

"Well, they're eight Captains, so the enemy basically stands no chance. I sincerely hope they'll deal with him fast and return here quickly. I can't wait, look, I'm all shaking because of the stress."

"And overly loquacious as well", commented Motoko Manihōrudo, the Second Division Lieutenant, with mild irritation. "Shut up and stay vigilant."

"Please, don't behave like that", implored Kana Enodoriko. "We are all anxious because our Captains are in Hueco Mundo. But don't worry, I'm sure they'll all come back all right."

"Hmph! Captain Kuragari better returns quick, I'm tired of fulfiling his duties", quetched Motoko.

As she was saying that, she subconsciously touched the silver bracelet she wore on her left wrist. Lieutenant Suijōki noticed that.

"Hey, isn't that the trinket he gave you?", he asked teasingly.

Manihōrudo widened her eyes momentarily, but rapidly resumed her grimace of constant annoyance afterward.

"Yes. What about that?", she asked in a tone as if completely ignoring his implication. "I wear it because he wants me to."

"Yeah, sure", replied Ryū. "Just admit you're worried like the rest of us."

Just as she was about to respond, Hibiki interrupted her.

"Don't hide your feelings, Manihōrudo-san, we all know what do you really think. We're all friends, there's no need to be so secretive and to keep everything to yourself", he said.

Motoko winced and turned her head to the side.

"Hmph. I need to be silent to compensate for your improbable chattiness", she grumbled.

"Please, stop that", entreated Enodoriko again. "We're in an emergency. There's no time to argue with each other when the Hollows can appear at any moment."

Manihōrudo glanced at her and slowly retained her composure.

"You're right. Um, I'm sorry", she muttered.

When Sasuyōna opened his mouth, there suddenly was a loud, distant scream. The Lieutenants and the groups of Shinigami scattered around all stopped at once.

"The Hollows have attacked!", shouted someone.

"They're already at the gates!", exclaimed another one.

"Shit", said Motoko. "Let's go!"

The Lieutenants promptly drew their Zanpakutōs. The other Shinigami quickly followed them and ran toward the closest gate in the wall surrounding the Seireitei.

All of a sudden, there was an explosion nearby. Pieces of a destroyed building showered the Soul Reapers.

"They're inside?!", asked Suijōki with astonishment.

"That's impossible! Each gate is guarded by a Captain, there's no way they could get inside so fast!", replied Hibiki.

"Quick!", commanded Manihōrudo.

Before they were able to move, however, they felt an overwhelming, deathly cold spiritual pressure. Most of the Shinigami were virtually paralysed by its magnitude.

"What is that?", wondered Enodoriko anxiously.

Then, a single being emerged from amongst the nearby buildings. It was a sickly thin, female humanoid with pale blue skin. She levitated several metres over the ground with her legs crossed as in a meditative pose. The emotionless gaze of her steel grey eyes was highly unsettling and ruthless.

"Identify yourself!", shouted Ryū at the intruder.

Instead of replying, the Vasto Lorde turned around to face him. Afterward, several shadowy portals opened silently in her vicinity. Much to the Shinigamis' dismay, numerous Hollows started to emerge from the gateways.

"Men, prepare to fight!", ordered Motoko.

The unnamed Vasto Lorde narrowed her eyes slightly. Then, the Hollows plunged at the Soul Reapers with animalistic ferocity.

*****