The Woman who Knows All

Shukai
The Senkaimon opened in World of the Living and Raian Getsueikirite leaped out at full speed. Immediately he could sense a large fluctuation of reiatsu near Japan. Gritting his teeth, he increased his speed and flew with renewed vigor towards the source. It only took him a few moments to reach the site of the battle. He spotted Seireitou Kawahiru amongst the ruin of the forest in which the battle had taken place. His best friend was in Bankai state, but there didn't seem to be any sign of an enemy. He must've just missed it.

"Seireitou-san!" Raian shouted, drawing the silver-haired man's attention.

Seireitou was snapped out of his daze and his head immediately darted to the source of the noise, "Raian?! What in God's name are you doing here?!" he shouted back.

"I tried to reach you before things got out of hand. Looks like I was too late." Raian replied, gritting his teeth.

"Let's go down there," Seireitou suggested, motioning to a portion of the forest that was not destroyed, "You can fill me in then."

Both Shinigami flashed down to the location Seireitou had motioned to. From there, Raian explained about the situation in Soul Society and Rider City to Seireitou. But he especially noted the freshly declared war by Akujin and his cronies. Seireitou clenched his fist as he absorbed the information.

"So... Rider City is gone too?" he grunted, "How could things have gotten this far?"

"Things look pretty grim, Sei." Raian continued, "Akujin and his troops are nearly unstoppable at this point."

"No, there is hope." Seireitou snapped, "Akujin considers we Yonkō special. We can all resist that Bankai Ensnaring Device of his and we each possess Bankai that equal his own. The four of us need to get together and fight him again."

"Foolish younger brother." a disembodied voice came from above.

Both Raian and Seireitou quickly shifted their gaze to the skies above them in time to see Kamui descending; his lavender hair glowing in the intense sunlight.

"I sensed your battle with this Akujin. He is far beyond either of your levels. Even if you both were to fight him together, you'd both die." Kamui explained, drawing concerned and frustrated looks from Raian and Seireitou. "The only thing that can bring about the halt of the end of the world is a Shukai user."

Seireitou rolled his eyes, "Now whose the 'foolish brother'?" he questioned, "Shukai is a legend. Nothing exists beyond Bankai. If there was such a thing, you and I would've reached that level by now."

"It's not so simple, Seireitou." Kamui snapped, "We Kawahiru are not born with the rights to Shukai. We could train for centuries and never see such a level of power."

"Are you trying to tell me that Sōzōshin such as us are incapable of achieving a form beyond Bankai? If one existed, surely it would be the Sōzōshin who were trusted to wield it." Seireitou replied.

Kamui sighed and shook his head, "No. We Sōzōshin play a very different role in the universe than that of the Shinigami. We may be naturally more powerful but there once existed Shinigami that could surpass even our best in might and spiritual power." he explained, "The Shukai users were the balancers of the universe. Without them, we would have all be gone long ago."

"If what you say is true, then who all are capable of using this third release?" Seireitou questioned.

Kamui unfolded his arms and extended his right index finger towards Raian, drawing a very shocked response from both Seireitou and Raian.

"He is a direct descendant of the ones that once used Shukai. Nevertheless, I am not wise enough to give you all the answers. But I know one that does know the answers we seek." Kamui continued.

"Who's that...?" Seireitou asked, still in shock.

"Majo Hisakata. A fortune telling witch in Rukongai. She is the one that gave the Shukai prophecy millennia ago. If anyone knows, she does." Kamui replied.

"Then I suggest we go see this witch." Raian finally chimed in, "I don't know much about this Shukai, or why you say I am capable of it when you two are not, but if something isn't done to stop Akujin, our way of life could be over at the end of this war."